Harrell's Homer Propels Bulldogs Past Lady Bisons
May 08, 2008 | Softball
DELAND, Fla. – An outstanding overall team effort coupled by Melody Harrell's solo homer in the fifth frame led the sixth-seeded Gardner-Webb softball team to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the No. 1 seeded Lady Bisons of Lipscomb Thursday afternoon in the second game of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.
The Bulldogs improve to 22-33 on the year while Lipscomb drops to 29-25 overall.
"It was a great win for us," Harrell said. "Our pitchers did an amazing job and we were able to go out there and help them out."
Harrell, who made a name for herself in last year's A-Sun opener with a four-for-four performance while driving in six in the 8-0 win over Campbell, came through with a fifth-inning solo blast, which turned out to be the game-winning run.
Harrell's heroics would not have been possible, however, if it wasn't for the two-runs that the squad got on the board in the fourth inning. Senior Jessi Williams led off the fourth by launching a solo shot that knotted the game at 1-1.
Sophomore Christa Fullwood and Mandy Ward each earned a base on balls before Lipscomb pulled starter Kim Jacobson for Alaina Jacobson. After Jacobson got Haley Scism to foul out, Adrienne Smith singled to center field, loading the bases. Angie Walls went down swinging for the second out. However, sophomore newcomer pinch hit for Lindsay Cox and drew the bases loaded walk, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage.
Lipscomb got things going in the second inning as Heather Collins hit a solo homerun to lead off the frame for a 1-0 lead.
GWU threatened in the third as Smith reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Walls. Kelly Linsley earned a two-out walk to put runners on first and second, but Jacobson was able to get Harrell out to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the third, senior Taryn Beck came in to relieve sophomore Christine Murray. Murray went two innings while giving up just one run on two hits while striking out one.
Beck entered the contest and allowed a two-out hit in the third and a one-out hit in the fourth, but easily got out of the innings.
After Harrell's homer gave the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead in the fifth, Beck was able to get out of the bottom half of the frame without any damage being done. She walked two batters, but forced Lipscomb into a fielder's choice and an infield pop up to Harrell to end the frame.
Christin Campbell homered in the sixth to pull the top seed to within one, 3-2, but Beck calmly got out of the inning.
GWU had a chance to tack on an insurance run in the seventh, but was denied. Linsley reached on an error and swiped second. Williams earned a walk, but then was out at second on Fullwood's fielder's choice. With runners on first and third and two outs, Jacobson forced Mandy Ward into a pop fly to end the threat.
In their last at bat, the Lady Bisons got a leadoff walk. Mackenzie Tucker came in to pinch run for Katie Brokmeyer and moved to second on Megan Rottler's sacrifice bunt. Beck then forced Lauren Dortwegt to ground out to Cox before striking out Simons to end the contest.
Beck improved to 10-13 on the year while Kim Jacobson dropped to 9-10. Beck pitched five innings in relief and gave up one run on three hits while striking out three to lead the Bulldogs to their second consecutive opening round Atlantic Sun Conference win.
Harrell, Williams, Smith and Walls collected the four hits for the Bulldogs while Harrell, Williams and Whitlock drove in the runs.
The Bulldogs return to action tonight against Mercer at 6 p.m.
The Bears fell to No. 4 seed ETSU by a 2-0 score in the 9 a.m.
game. GWU and Mercer split the games this season.
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