CHARLESTON, S.C. - Tyler Thornburg pitched eight shutout innings and put the Charleston Southern baseball team ahead 1-0 with a solo home run, but Stew Brase allowed two runs in the top of the ninth as Winthrop University came back to take the game 2-1 over the Buccaneers Saturday afternoon at CSU Ballpark.

The Buccaneers (15-19, 4-6 Big South Conference) have been the team producing stellar late-inning drama recently, but this time they were bitten by the comeback bug as the Eagles (14-16, 2-6 Big South) were able to mount the rally.

Thornburg and Winthrop starting pitcher Matteo D'Angelo each tossed eight near-perfect innings. The only run allowed by either starter was in the seventh when Thornburg hit a line drive off D'Angelo that cleared the left center wall for his seventh home run of the season.

Thornburg allowed only two hits and did not concede a run, striking out six and walking five in the no-decision.

D'Angelo (3-3) was just as dominant, as he gave up just one run on three hits. He struck out seven and walked three to earn the victory. He faced the minimum number of batters through the first four innings, and only allowed one hit and two walks in the first six innings before being touched up by Thornburg.

Brase relieved Thornburg in the ninth to try and lock down the save, and nearly got the job done. He recorded back-to-back outs before allowing a full-count walk to Sean Sullivan. He stole second, and Zak Blair singled up the middle to tie the game. After Blair also stole second, he was driven home by a single from Adam Gliebe.

Brase recorded the final out of the inning, but the damage had been done. Jon Matthews led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk, but Thornburg struck out, Tom Burkett flew out and Patrick Dolan lined out to end the game.

Dom Patterozzi recorded the first two outs of the ninth, and Greg Hough closed the door on CSU by producing the lineout from Dolan.

Matthews, Thornburg and Dolan were the only three Bucs to produce a hit.

Gliebe was 2-for-4 to lead Winthrop, and he also drove in the game-winning run. Blair recorded an RBI and a run, and Sullivan also scored.

The rubber match between CSU and WU is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 11. Andrew White (1-2, 4.72 ERA) is scheduled to take the hill for the Buccaneers, and Robert Lake (4-2, 4.25 ERA) will counter for Winthrop.