Gardner-Webb Picks Up Doubleheader Sweep Over Appalachian State
April 15, 2008 | Softball
BOONE, N.C. – It was a tremendous all-around day for the Gardner-Webb softball team as head coach Tom Cole's team pulled off a doubleheader sweep of Appalachian State Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs won the first game 4-1 before picking up a 5-0 win in game two.
GWU improves to 18-28 on the season while the Mountaineers fall to 7-26.
Cindy Boomhower and Chrsitine Murray each picked up wins while Taryn Beck posted yet another save. Melody Harrell led the hitting barrage for the Bulldogs, ripping a .667 average over the two games. Mandy Ward, Christa Fullwood and Kelsey Witter all hit .500 for the day while Kelly Linsley (.429) and Lindsay Cox (.400) each hit at least .400 for the doubleheader. Adrienne Smith batted .333 while the team amassed a .339 average for both games.
Harrell accounted for three RBI and a run scored while Fullwood batted in a couple and scoring once. Linsley ran rampant on the base paths, leading the team with three runs scored.
In game one, GWU tallied four runs on 12 hits while limiting the home team to one run on four hits.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead to get things going. In the top of the first, Linsley started off the game with an infield single. She promptly swiped second and moved to third on Harrell's single to left field. After Harrell stole second, Fullwood's sacrifice fly allowed Linsley to score. Ward singled to center field, but Harrell was unable to score. GWU was not able to get any more runs across in the frame.
However, GWU added two runs in its next at bat. With one out, Cox singled down the left field line and she stole second. Linsley singled and Cox scored on the play as there was a throwing error on the third baseman. Linsley wound up on third base, which was huge as Harrell's deep fly to right scored her on the next play.
ASU was able to get a run in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a throwing error, but the team was shut down by Boomhower, ending the inning with GWU ahead 3-1.
The Bulldogs put runners on in the each of the next four innings, but no GWU student-athlete got closer than second base except for Fullwood in the fifth. After she singled and moved to second on Ward's grounder, she scampered to third on Smith's single to center. However, Angie Walls struck out to end the threat.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Fullwood got things going with a single up the middle. She moved to second on Ward's infield one-bagger to shortstop. Fullwood came around to score on Haley Scism's double to right center giving the Bulldogs the 4-1 lead
In ASU's last at bat, Beck came in for Boomhower in the circle. She walked two, but struck out two while inducing a groundout to end the contest. The save was her fourth of the season, tying the single-season school record. Beck is now in third place on the career list for saves.
In game two, the Bulldogs got on the board early with two runs in the first. Linsley reached base on a throwing error to lead off the game, moving to second on the errant throw by the shortstop. She came home as Harrell belted a double down the right field line for a 1-0 lead. After Harrell moved to third, she came home on Fullwood's single for the 2-0 lead.
That was more than enough for Murray, who came in and kept the home team at bay. Murray struck out a season-high 13 batters. After allowing ASU to get three runners on base in the bottom half of the frame, Murray got out of the frame by striking out the side.
Cole's team added two insurance runs in the fourth. Kelsey Witter singled to lead things off before stealing second. After Walls was hit by a pitch to put two on board, Smith pinch ran for Walls. Cox laid down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt which allowed both runners to move up 60 feet. Linsley's bunt single loaded the bases for Harrell. She singled back up the middle, scoring Witter. Williams earned a walk, driving in another run for the 4-0 score.
After Murray struck out the side once again in the sixth, the Bulldogs added yet another run in the seventh. With one down, Ward doubled do the left field line. Two batters later, Witter doubled her home for the 5-0 final tally.
For the contest, GWU accounted for five runs on eight hits. Murray held ASU to just three hits while notching her first shutout of the season and the second of her career.
The Bulldogs return to action this weekend when they stay on the
road for a critical Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader with
Belmont. The teams will play on Saturday, April 19. First pitch is
slated for 2 p.m. EST.
| Box Score Game 2 |
| Box Score Game 1 |
