Bulldogs Win First Ever Big South Conference Game; Split 1-1 with PC
April 02, 2009 | Softball
Clinton, S.C. – The Gardner-Webb softball team won its first ever conference game as members of the Big South on Thursday afternoon, as the Bulldogs split a doubleheader with Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C.
The Bulldogs won game one by a score of 2-0, as junior hurler
Christine Murray held the Blue Hose to one hit over seven innings.
In game two, the Bulldogs fell 5-3, as Presbyterian College scored
two runs in the fifth to break a 3-3 tie and pick up the win.
With the split the Bulldogs move to 12-18 overall and 1-5 in
conference play, while the Blue Hose move to 14-14 overall and 2-4
in the league.
Game 1: Gardner-Webb 2, Presbyterian College
0
The Bulldogs Christine Murray just needed two runs on four hits, as
the junior hurler shutout the Blue Hose with a 2-0 win, the
Bulldogs first ever Big South Conference win.
Presbyterian's lone hit of the game came in the very first inning,
a single off the bat of left-field Brittany Howell, which was the
only runner to reach base safely over the seven inning contest.
After that Murray (5-11) shut down the Blue Hose, as the
right-hander allowed one hit while striking out ten PC hitters to
pick up the complete game shutout victory. Murray did not walk a
single batter in the contest.
The Bulldogs offense finally broke through in the top of the sixth,
as senior second-baseman Angie Walls led off the inning with a
single to center field. Freshman Melinda Dulkowski then attempted
a sacrifice bunt, but reached base safely on a fielding error by
the PC third-baseman. After a GWU pop out, senior Adrienne Smith
laid down a well-played sacrifice bunt to advance the runners up
into scoring position with two outs.
With two outs junior shortstop Melody Harrell came through in the
clutch, ripping a line drive down the left-field line to score both
Walls and Dulkowski to put the Bulldogs up 2-0.
That was where the score would stand after seven, as the Bulldogs
held the Blue Hose both hitless and scoreless in the final two
innings to pick up the 2-0 win.
At the plate, Harrell was 1-3 with a double and two RBIs, while
Mandy Ward, McKenzie Morenus and Walls were all 1-3 for the
game.
Game 2: Presbyterian College 5, Gardner-Webb 3
The Bulldogs used a three-run fourth to tie the score up at 3-3,
yet the Blue Hose pushed across two runs in the bottom of the fifth
to pull out the 5-3 win.
PC got on the board first, as the Blue Hose scored a run in the second off a sacrifice fly by Lindsey Trombley and two more in the third of four base hits to pull ahead at 3-0 after three innings of play.
The young Bulldogs answered with a three-run fourth, as Morenus
singled to center field to score two. Walls then hit a single down
the left-field line to score one, knotting the score up at 3-3.
However, PC pushed across two runs in the bottom of the fifth off a
Leslie Hensley flair single which just sailed over the head of
Christa Fullwood at first base to score two and put the Blue Hose
up 5-3, which proved to be the final score.
Presbyterian College's Hensley (8-4) picked up the win, as she gave
up three runs on seven hits while striking out four in the complete
game win.
GWU's Murray (5-12) was handed the loss, as she allowed two runs on
six hits while striking out six in three innings of relief
work.
The seniors led the way for the Bulldogs, as Smith was 2-4 and
Walls was 2-3 with an RBI. Morenus was 1-3 with two RBIs, while
Fullwood and Harrell were both 1-3.
For Presbyterian College, Hensley was 2-3 with two RBIs and Katie
Anderson was 2-3 with an RBI.
The Bulldogs will continue conference play this weekend, as
Gardner-Webb will travel to Conway, S.C. to take on the
Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina. Saturday's doubleheader will
start at 2 p.m.
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| Game 2 Box Score - PC 5, Gardner-Webb 3 |
| Game 1 Box Score - Gardner-Webb 2, PC 0 |
