GWU Softball Defeats Coastal Carolina 2-1 on Sunday Afternoon
April 05, 2009 | Softball
Conway, S.C. – Gardner-Webb scored two runs in the top of the first which proved to be enough, as junior pitcher Christine Murray held the Coastal Carolina offense to one run on only four hits to help guide the Bulldogs to a 2-1 victory on Sunday afternoon in Conway, S.C.
With Sunday's win, the Bulldogs improve to 14-19 overall and 3-6 in conference play. The win also gave the Bulldogs its first ever Big South Conference series win, as Coach Cole's squad took two out of three over the Lady Chanticleers.
Just like in its 3-2 win over the Lady Chanticleers on Saturday, the Bulldogs got on the board right out of the gates, scoring two in the top of the first. With one out in the inning, senior Adrienne Smith got thing started with a single to shortstop. Junior shortstop Melody Harrell then singled to first, while fellow classmate Christa Fullwood followed with a single to center to score Smith from second. After catcher Mandy Ward drew a walk to load the bases, sophomore left fielder Kelly Witter hit a deep fly ball to right field to score Harrell from third and put Gardner-Webb up early at 2-0.
The Lady Chanticleers tried to battle back, as catcher Morgan Dodd belted a home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the Bulldogs lead in half at 2-1 heading into the final inning of play.
GWU's Murray (7-12) picked up the win, her second in as many days, as the right-hander allowed only one run on four hits while striking out seven in seven innings of action. Murray issued a walk in the bottom of the seventh, snapping a streak of 23 consecutive innings without a walk over her last four appearances.
Coastal Carolina's Katelin Edwards (5-14) was saddled with the loss, as she gave up two runs on five hits, while striking out two and walking two in 3.2 innings of work.
Freshman Melinda Dulkowski led the Bulldogs offensively, as she was 2-3 with a double. Smith was 1-3 with a run scored, while both Ashley Whitlock and Jane Savage were both 1-3 at the plate. Juniors Harrell and Fullwood were both 1-4, while Fullwood had an RBI in the top of the first.
For the Lady Chanticleers offensively, Dodd was 1-2 with a solo home run, while Mecaela Ballard, Brittany Birnbaum and Olivia Williams were all 1-3 at the plate.
Gardner-Webb will return to action on Thursday, April 9, as the Bulldogs will play host to the Liberty Lady Flames in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Varsity Field.
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| Box Score - Gardner-Webb 2, Coastal Carolina 1 |
