Bulldogs Send Bruins Into Hibernation With Doubleheader Sweep
April 19, 2008 | Softball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Four Gardner-Webb softball players drove in two runs apiece while three blasted homeruns en route to a doubleheader sweep at Belmont Saturday afternoon in the team's most critical series of the season by scores of 6-0 and 5-2.
Angie Walls, Mandy Ward and Jessi Williams all tallied homeruns while Walls, Williams, Melody Harrell and Ashley Whitlock each knocked in a pair of runs as the Bulldogs hit .290 compared to .235 for the home team Saturday. Cindy Boomhower and Taryn Beck combined for the game one shutout with Beck getting the win. Murray tossed six innings in game two for the victory.
"We've played well the last 10 games," head coach Tom Cole said. "We felt if we came out and played the way we could, we would win. We knew we had to get both wins and we were able to do so. All of the girls on the team played very well today."
With the sweep, Gardner-Webb improves to 20-28 on the season and 5-13 in Atlantic Sun Conference play. Belmont falls to 14-34 on the season and 3-19 against conference competition.
In game one, the Bulldogs got things going virtually from the get go. With one out, Harrell beat out a ball hit to the third baseman. She was able to take her time going home, however, as Williams pelted the offering over the center field fence for a quick 2-0 lead. After Christa Fullwood was unable to get on base, Ward launched a homer over the left field wall for a 3-0 advantage that was more than enough for the Bulldogs' pitching staff.
In the second, Walls got into the long-ball act, rocketing the pitch over the wall in left center for a 4-0 lead. GWU tacked on its fifth run of the contest in the fifth. With one gone, Fullwood struck out but was able to get on first due to an error by the catcher. After Ward reached on a fielder's choice, Adrienne Smith singled to center field, loading the bases. Walls sharply hit the Bruins' offering for a single to left, driving in Fullwood.
Boomhower was able to get out of the bottom of the third unscathed, giving up two hits, but only having one runner left on after inducing a double play. She tossed three innings of work, giving up four hits and striking out one without walking a batter.
In the fourth, Cole went to the bullpen, summoning Beck to the circle. Beck responded brilliantly, retiring the first nine batters she faced.
GWU gave Beck some more breathing room in the seventh. Williams singled and scampered to second on the throw. She came home on Haley Scism's RBI double to center field for the final run of the contest.
Beck gave up a hit in the bottom of the seventh, but promptly got the next two Belmont batters out, including striking out Erin Gier to end the contest.
For the game, the Bulldogs pounded out six runs on 11 hits while allowing just five hits to the opposition. Harrell, Williams and Walls each had two hits. Williams and Walls accounted for two RBI apiece while Ward and Scism each had the other. Williams also spearheaded runners crossing the plate, scoring twice.
Beck picked up the win, going four innings while striking out five
and giving up just one hit. Neither Beck nor Boomhower walked a
Bruin in the contest.
Game two started off in the same fashion for GWU, posting a three-spot in the first frame for pitcher Christine Murray.
Linsley, one of the most patient batters in Bulldogs' history, moved into a tie for first place on the career walks list by drawing a leadoff base on balls. She turned on the jets, scoring from first on Harrell's double to center field. Harrell's high school teammate, Fullwood, brought her home with a single up the middle. After Belmont changed pitchers, Ward doubled to left, putting two in scoring position. Fullwood scored on Whitlock's fielder's choice for the 3-0 lead.
Things got a little uneasy for GWU in the bottom of the frame as Murray allowed the first two runners on base. However, she hunkered down to get out of the inning without any damage being done.
Rookie Kelsey Witter walked, swiped second and moved to third on Lindsay Cox's grounder to third. Witter was plated by Harrell's single to the right for a 4-0 advantage for the Red and Black.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the sixth with an insurance run. After Fullwood walked to lead things off, she moved to second on Ward's grounder to third. With two outs, Whitlock singled to right center, bringing Fullwood home.
Beck came in to pitch for Murray in the sixth and picked up where she left off, striking out the first batter. However, Belmont was able to pick up two runs on three hits in the inning, trimming the deficit to three at 5-2. Beck, who has been in virtually every situation possible in the circle during her four years at GWU, was able to get out of a bases loaded jam, limiting the Bruins to two runs.
GWU nearly broke open the contest in its last at bat, but was unable to do so. With one out, Harrell reached on a fielding error and moved to second on Williams's single to left center. Fullwood also reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, loading the bases. However, Harrell was thrown out as Ward reached on a fielder's choice and Scism was unable to bring home anyone in her at bat.
Despite not getting any more runs on the board, the Bulldogs held firm in the Bruins' last at bat. Taking advantage of the re-entry rule, Murray came back to the circle for GWU in the bottom of the seventh.
Belmont got a runner on third with one out in the inning. With two outs, the Bruins loaded the bases. However, Murray repeated Beck's ending of game one, striking out Holly Herman to end the game.
Murray went six innings, giving up just four hits while striking out five and walking three to get the win. Beck struck out two in her inning of work.
GWU tallied five runs on seven hits while Belmont amassed two runs on seven hits.
Harrell and Williams each led the way with two hits apiece. Harrell and Whitlock each drove in two while Fullwood scored twice. Fullwood also drove in one.
The Bulldogs will return to action on Thursday, April 24, when they host Kennesaw State at Varsity Field. The first pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. The doubleheader marks the last home games for seniors Taryn Beck, Lindsay Cox, Kelly Linsley, Haley Scism and Jessi Williams.
| Game 2 Box Score |
| Game 1 Box Score |
