Harrell Propels Gardner-Webb Past Campbell In Six Innings, 8-0
May 10, 2007 | Softball
DELAND, Fla. – Freshman Melody Harrell drove in six RBIs as the Gardner-Webb softball team won its first-ever game in the Atlantic Sun Championship in the first round of the 2007 double elimination competition.
The Bulldogs improve to 33-24-1 on the season with the win.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the first as senior Abbie Looper singled through the left side of the Campbell defense. On the second pitch to slapper Jessi Polk, Looper swiped second, her 31st of the season, and scored on a Melody Harrell single to center field, giving GWU a 1-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs exploded for four runs in the second, building a 5-0 advantage. Lindsey Whitfield singled to left to start the inning, but Jessi Williams' sacrifice bunt attempt went awry as Campbell's hurler Lauren Caviness caught the attempt and fired to first, doubling off Whitfield who was almost at second base.
Joanna Ward strode to the plate and worked the count full on Caviness. On the pay-off pitch, a change-up, Ward hit a high, lazy fly ball that carried farther than first thought, clearing the fence for her 11th homerun of the season. The homerun also tied her with Lindsey Whitfield for first place in career homeruns at GWU.
After that, Caviness walked designated player Haley Scism. The Camels' coach changed pitchers, turning to Brittany Stanley to end the bleeding. During the second game of the doubleheader earlier in the season, Stanley held the Bulldogs scoreless in the 1-0 nine-inning win.
Despite Stanley's effort, the Bulldogs forced her to throw strikes, which she was unable to do. Stanley walked Kelly Linsley and Looper to load the bases. Polk earned a base on balls, allowing Scism to score for a 3-0 margin. With the bases still loaded, Harrell came up big again, singling and plating Linsley and Looper, giving the designated home squad a 5-0 lead.
GWU built its advantage to 6-0 in the fourth as Scism got things going with a lead-off walk. Linsley singled, moving Lindsay Cox to second. Cox came in as a pinch runner for Scism. After the next two Bulldogs popped up, Harrell came through with her fourth RBI of the contest, singling to left to plate Cox.
With two on and two out in the fifth, hurler Taryn Beck induced Campbell's Jessica Huffman to pop up to Whitfield on the edge of the outfield grass to end the threat. Earlier in the inning, Polk made a diving catch off the bat of Robin Leathers, preventing extra bases by the Camels' hitter.
Beck allowed a one-out double to Courtney Quinn in the sixth, but was able to work out of the jam behind solid defense. Beck got Amanda Littlejohn to pop up to Whitfield and Shayla Cullum flied out to Harrell to end the inning.
Scism reached on an error and Linsley reached on a fielder's choice, putting runners at first and second due to a throwing error by Kelly Weaver. Polk's sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third before Harrell ended the game with a single to center field, plating both runners.
Beck finished the game allowing just four hits. She earned her 18th win of the season, moving her into a tie for first place on the single-season list. It also marked her ninth shutout, moving into sole possession of first place for shutouts in a season.
The Bulldogs return to action tonight at 6 p.m. against
ETSU.
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