Gardner-Webb Falls To Kennesaw State
April 24, 2008 | Softball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb softball team dropped two tough games to Kennesaw State Thursday afternoon in its last home date of the season by scores of 6-1 and 2-1.
The Bulldogs fall to 20-30 on the season and 5-15 in A-Sun play. The Owls improve to 35-16 on the year and 13-7 in league action.
In game one, the Owls picked up an unearned run in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead. GWU looked like it was going to tie the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first frame, but Sarah Hesterman connected with Jackie Warren, who turned and fired a laser to Jenna Closner at home base, tagging out Melody Harrell for the third out of the frame. Harrell had singled and tried to score on Christa Fullwood's double down the left field line. Although the ball trickled to the corner, Hesterman was able to pick it up cleanly and made a solid throw to the relay target.
The Bulldogs got back the run in the fourth inning, tying the contest at one apiece. After Jessi Williams reached on a single to left, she moved to second on a wild pitch by Brittany Matthews. Fullwood came through with another clutch hit, singling to right field. With the speed Williams has, Hesterman didn't challenge her and held Fullwood on first with a throw back to the bag.
Cindy Boomhower, who looked to have recovered from giving up an unearned run in the first, was cruising along until the fifth. Jessica Cross unloaded on a Boomhower pitch, sending it just over the right center field wall, driving in two base runners for a 4-1 advantage.
The Owls tacked on two more runs in the sixth as Hollie Huffman scored on an infield single from second. After Lindsay McCurry narrowly beat out a single to Harrell, Huffman motored home on the play as she didn't stop at all once the ball was hit. Jordan Hackett's single to Kelly Linsley plated Jamie KeKaualua from second. However, the Bulldogs got out of the inning as McCurry was careless after rounding second base. Linsley faked the throw to third, then pivoted and fired a rocket to Angie Walls, who easily tagged out McCurry as she tried unsuccessfully to return to second.
The Bulldogs were unable to get anything going in the sixth or seventh, thus ending their chances for a comeback attempt.
Matthews improved to 21-7 on the year with the win while Angela Lopez picked up her first career save. Boomhower dropped to 3-8 on the season with the loss.
KSU tallied six runs on 11 hits while GWU managed just one run on five hits. Fullwood accounted for two of the hits, going two-for-three, while Williams, Harrell and Haley Scism each had a base knock.
GWU jumped on top of the Owls in game two with a run in its first at bat. Linsley earned a leadoff walk – to move into sole possession of first in that category all time on the Bulldogs' list – and eventually scored on an error by McCurry, who tried to throw her out going to third on Fullwood's single. However, the throw sailed into GWU's dugout, allowing her to come home.
The Owls tied the contest in their next at bat as Jessica Cross belted a solo homerun on Christine Murray's offering, making the score 1-1. After two scoreless innings, KSU jumped ahead on a two-out single by Catherine Rodriguez. Rodriguez singled to center field and the ball fell just in front of a diving Linsley. Harrell scampered out to get the ball and threw it home, but it was just late of getting McCurry. McCurry had singled and scored from first base as she it was a hit and run for a 2-1 lead.
With one out in the fifth frame, Lindsay Cox hit a ball back to Cross, who fielded it and threw it wildly to the Owls' dugout. Cox moved to second on the error and was pushed to third on Linsley's grounder to second base. However, Harrell was unable to bring her in despite her sharply hit ball right at KeKaualua.
The Owls tried to add to their lead in the sixth frame, but Fullwood came through with a stellar defensive play. Jackie Warren tried to bunt Erica Joseph to second base, but Fullwood used a foot-first slide about 15 feet away from the plate to snag the attempt. She then turned and in one upward motion, was able to get to her throwing stance and whistled the ball back to first base, where Angie Walls was covering. She quickly touched the base, doubling off Warren. Murray then forced Jenna Closner into a weak fly ball that Jessi Williams easily snared for the third out.
KSU shut down the Bulldogs over the final two innings, not allowing a base runner.
Cross picked up the victory, moving to 8-4 on the year. Lopez earned her second save of the season while Murray suffered the loss, dropping to 8-6.
GWU managed just three hits in the game, coming off the bats of Williams, Fullwood and Kelsey Witter.
The Bulldogs return to action tomorrow as they travel to Buies
Creek, N.C., for a doubleheader against A-Sun and in-state rival
Campbell. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
| Box Score Game 2 |
| Game 1 Box Score |
