Bulldogs Struggle Offensively in 6-1 Loss at Winthrop in Regular Season Finale
April 24, 2009 | Softball
Rock Hill, S.C.– The Gardner-Webb softball team struggled offensively on Thursday afternoon, picking up only two hits and one run in its regular season finale, ultimately falling to the Winthrop Lady Eagles 6-1 in conference play.
The loss drops the Bulldogs to 17-25 overall and 6-12 in conference play.
The Lady Eagles got on the board first, pushing across three runs in the bottom of the third by way of an RBI double by lead-off hitter Tessa Thomas, an RBI single by designated player Taylor Wright and two GWU errors, to take an early 3-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb picked up its first hit of the game, a single off the bat of catcher Mandy Ward, and capitalized on two Winthrop errors in the top of the fourth to push a run across the plate and get on the scoreboard. Freshman McKenzie Morenus drove in junior shortstop Melody Harrell from third-place on a fielder's choice to put the Bulldogs on the board and cut the Winthrop lead to two at 3-1.
Winthrop put the game away in its next at bat, as Thomas blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall to put the Lady Eagles up 6-1 with three innings left to play.
The Bulldog offense continued to struggle, picking up only one more hit over the final three innings of play to fall 6-1.
Junior Christine Murray (9-16) suffered the loss, as she struggled with her control all game long, giving up six runs, five earned, on seven hits while walking five in six innings. Murray did strikeout eight Winthrop batters along the way.
Winthrop's Cari Wooldridge (7-9) picked up the complete game win, surrendering only one run, which was unearned, on two hits while striking out seven batters in seven innings of work.
Gardner-Webb's Christa Fullwood went 1-3 on the day, extending her season long-hitting streak to 10-games. Ward was 1-3 on the day, while Morenus drove in the lone Bulldog run.
For Winthrop, Thomas was 2-4 with a home run, double, four RBI and two runs scored, while Wright was 3-4 with two stolen bases.
The Bulldogs wrapped up its 2009 regular season with a 17-25 overall record and was 6-12 in its first year in the Big South. Coach Cole's squad will now set its sights on the 2009 Big South Softball Championships on May 7-9 in Radford, Va.
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| Box Score - Winthrop 6, Gardner-Webb 1 |
