Gardner-Webb Closes Out A-Sun Regular Season Play With Split At Campbell
April 25, 2008 | Softball
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After dropping the first game two Campbell, the Gardner-Webb softball team allowed an early lead to slip away before snagging a 4-3 victory over Campbell in the second game of the doubleheader Friday evening. GWU dropped the opener 2-0.
The Bulldogs won their last-ever A-Sun regular season game and finished their last-ever conference season with a 6-16 league mark. GWU stands at 21-31 overall. Campbell is now 36-22 on the year with an 8-12 conference mark.
With the game one loss, GWU locked itself into the No. 6 position at the conference tournament that will run May 8-10 in DeLand, Fla., where it is hosted by Stetson.
In game two, Campbell threatened in the first, but Christine Murray was able to get out of the frame unscathed. After no action in the second inning, Angie Walls got things going for the Bulldogs, whose bats were silenced completely in game one. Walls led off the frame with a solo blast to the opposite field. With one out, Lindsay Cox singled up the middle and moved to third on Kelly Linsley's infield single. The runners originally would have stayed at first and second, but an error by the shortstop allowed each to move up one base.
Sophomore Melody Harrell drilled a pitch down the right field line, scoring both of the runners on base for a 3-0 lead.
The Camels attempted to get on the board in the bottom half of the inning, but once again Murray was able to work out of a jam – this time a bases loaded one. With three on and two out, Murray got the Camels to hit a weak shot to Walls, who was able to get the force out at second to end the inning.
Campbell did plate two runs in the fifth, but GWU looked to extend its lead in the top of the sixth.
With the score 3-2 in favor of head coach Tom Cole's team, Walls singled up the middle with one out and moved to second when Kelsey Witter earned one of her season-high three walks. After erratic pitching allowed Ashley Whitlock, who was pinch-hitting, to earn a base on balls, things looked good for the Bulldogs. However, GWU was unable to come through as Linsley grounded out to second to end the threat.
Campbell took advantage of GWU's inability to score with the bases loaded by tying the contest in the bottom of the sixth. Then, with one out and one run already in, Cole went to the bullpen to bring in Taryn Beck. Beck intentionally walked a batter, but eventually forced the Camels to pop up into an inning-ending double play.
As neither team was able to plate a run in the seventh, the game went to extra innings, which normally has not bode well for the Bulldogs this year. However, Jessi Williams took care of that in the ninth as she singled to center field, allowing Harrell to race home from second for what turned out to be the game winner. Harrell had gotten on base by doubling to right center field.
Beck closed out the ninth by retiring the side in order for the victory.
In game one, Campbell got a leadoff homerun in the first inning for an early 1-0 lead. The run proved to be the game-winning-run as Brittany Stanley tossed a perfect game against the Bulldogs.
The Camels added a second run in their third at bat for a 2-0 advantage. From that point on, however, Cindy Boomhower shut down the opposition. Boomhower allowed just three hits in the contest.
After issuing a leadoff walk in the third, Boomhower did not allow another base runner the rest of the contest.
Stanley picked up the win, moving to 20-8 on the year while Boomhower dropped to 3-9.
The Bulldogs will try to gain some more momentum before taking a
break for finals as they close out the regular season at future Big
South foe Liberty on Tuesday, April 29 at 2 p.m.
| Box Score Game 1 |
| Box Score Game 2 |
