Bulldogs Win Second Straight Conference Series; Take Two Out Of Three Against Liberty
April 11, 2009 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb softball team waited 25 hours to finish the first game of the three-game weekend series, which started Friday at 11 a.m., and then won two straight in dramatic fashion to win its second straight conference series this weekend.
With the series win the Bulldogs improve to 16-20 overall and 5-7 in the Big South, while Liberty, who won the opening game of the series, fell to 15-25 and 4-5 in the conference.
Game 1: Liberty 5, Gardner-Webb 1 (game halted from Friday afternoon)
The conclusion of the opening game of the series which started at 11 a.m. on Friday morning, wrapped up close to 26 hours later, as GWU senior Angie Walls grounded out with the bases loaded to end the game with Liberty taking the 5-1 win.
For the two-day contest, junior Christine Murray (7-13) was handed the loss, as the right-hander allowed five runs on eight hits over seven innings on Friday, pitching in what proved to be a mud pit for most of the day.
Liberty's Tiffani Smith (7-7) picked up the win, as she gave up only one run on three hits over seven innings, getting the final out a of the contest a full day later than when she threw her first pitch.
At the plate on Friday, junior Christa Fullwood was 2-3 with a solo home run to led the Bulldogs, while for Liberty, Beth Bennett was 2-3 with a three-run home run and four total RBIs.
Game 2: Gardner-Webb 2, Liberty 1
After wrapping up the first game of the series on Saturday morning, the two teams then started its scheduled doubleheader, as the Bulldogs scored a late run in the bottom of the sixth to come away with the 2-1 win.
The Bulldogs looked to strike first in the bottom of the first, as junior shortstop Melody Harrell led off the inning with a single up the middle. Sophomore left fielder Kelsey Witter than doubled to left field. On the play, Harrell attempted to score all the way from first and was thrown out at a close play at home for the first out of the inning. With Witter on third, the next two GWU batters made outs, ending the Bulldogs scoring chances in the first.
Instead it was the Lady Flames who got on the scoreboard first, putting together three singles in the top of the fourth, capped off by an RBI single to right field by Kaylee West, giving Liberty a 1-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb answered in the bottom half of the inning, as Witter led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to center field. After Fullwood flew out to deep center and junior catcher Mandy Ward ground out to second, advancing Witter to second base, freshman third-baseman Mckenzie Morenus singled to left, plating Witter and tying the score up at 1-1.
GWU's Murray, who got the start in the circle for the Bulldogs, overcame a single, a sacrifice bunt and two walks in the fifth and a walk in the sixth to shut the Liberty offense down in the final three innings of play, holding them to one run and keeping the Bulldogs chances alive.
It was in the bottom of the sixth win the Bulldogs came through, as Fullwood doubled to center field with one out. Fellow classmate Ward then belted a single to left center to score Fullwood from second and put the home team up 2-1.
That run proved to be the game winner, as Murray sent the Lady Flames down one-two-three in the seventh to pick up the 2-1 complete game win.
Murray (8-13) was in control for the game, as she gave up one run on six hits while striking out eight Liberty batters in seven innings of work.
Liberty's Smith (7-8) was saddled with the loss, as the right-hander allowed two runs on six hits while striking out four batters in 5.1 innings.
Witter was 2-3 with a double and a run scored, while Ward and Morenus were both 1-3 with an RBI. Fullwood was 1-3 with a double and a run scored, while Harrell was 1-3 with a single.
For Liberty offensively, catcher Keely McMillon and second-baseman Cassie Hendrix were both 2-3, while West was 1-3 with an RBI.
Game 3: Gardner-Webb 6, Liberty 5
The Bulldogs Morenus belted a first-pitch line drive down the left field line with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to give the Bulldogs the 6-5 walk-off victory, its fifth walk of victory of the season.
Gardner-Webb carried over the momentum from the 2-1 win in the first game of the doubleheader, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Harrell led off the game with a single through the left side, while Witter followed with a well-placed bunt that dribbled right between the first and second-baseman of Liberty for a single, putting two runners on early in the first. Fullwood then belted a line drive down into the left field corner, driving in Harrell from second and moving Witter around to third. GWU's Ward then hit a sharp groundball to the left side, where Liberty's shortstop, Kelly Strickland, made a diving stop and came up throwing to home plate to try to catch Witter who was trying to score from third. The throw sailed high and off the catcher's glove to the backstop, allowing both Witter and Fullwood to score on the play and put the Bulldogs up 3-0.
Liberty knotted the score up at 3-3 in the top of the fifth, as the Lady Flames scored three runs on three hits, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat off Danielle Howard, finally getting to the Bulldogs' Murray, who had pitch four shutout innings.
The score would will remain tied at 3-3 heading into the seventh, where the Lady Flames pulled out to a 5-3 lead by way of a two-run home run by third-baseman J'nae Jefferson, putting the pressure on the Bulldogs as GWU headed into its last at-bat.
Yet, like the young Bulldog squad has done all year, Gardner-Webb refused to give in. Junior third-baseman Ashley Whitlock led off the inning with a flair single to right field. After freshman Jane Savage entered the game as a pitch runner for Whitlock, fellow freshman outfielder Melinda Dulkowski hit a single up the middle. On the hit, the pair of freshmen were aggressive on the base paths, as Savage did not slow down as she rounded second and went to third on the play, beating the throw, which allowed Dulkowski to take second base. Harrell then hit a fly ball to right field, allowing the speedy Savage to score from third and Dulkowski to move up to third on the out. With only one out, Witter then single to right center to score Dulkowski from third and tie the game up at 5-5. Fullwood followed with a single up the middle, where Witter moved over to third and Fullwood advanced to second on the throw. After Liberty intentionally walked Ward to load the bases, Morenus then lined the first pitch down the left field line to score Witter from third and give the Bulldogs the 6-5 win.
Freshman Kara Buchanan (1-0) picked up her first career win, as she pitched the final two innings of the contest in relief work.
Fullwood led the offensive charge for the Bulldogs, as the junior was 3-3 with a double, an RBI and run scored. Witter was 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Ward was 1-3 with a double and an RBI.
For Liberty, Howard was 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs, while Jefferson was 2-2 with a home run and three-RBIs.
The Bulldogs will look to win its third straight conference series next weekend, as Coach Cole's squad will travel to Charleston, S.C. to take on the Lady Buccaneers of Charleston Southern. The first game of the three-game weekend series is slated for Friday, April 17, at 2 p.m.
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| Game 2: Box Score - Gardner-Webb 2, Liberty 1 |
| Game 1: Box Score - Liberty 5, Gardner-Webb 1 (game started on Friday) |
| Game 3: Box Score - Gardner-Webb 6, Liberty 5 |
