Bulldogs Defeat Charleston Southern 5-3 for First-Ever Big South Softball Championship Tournament Win
May 07, 2009 | Softball
Radford, Va.– Late inning fireworks from both teams led to an exciting game in the 2009 Big South Softball Championship opener, as Gardner-Webb scored three runs in its bottom of the seventh to pick up a 5-3 opening round victory.
The win by the Bulldogs, who are in its first year as Big South members, was the first-ever Big South Softball Championship tournament victory.
Gardner-Webb got on the board first in the top of the first by way of a two-out RBI double to left-center off the bat of catcher Mandy Ward, driving in Christa Fullwood from second to pull out on top 1-0 of the Lady Buccaneers.
After Charleston Southern threatened in the bottom of the third putting two runners on base by way of a GWU error and a base-on-balls, the GWU hurler Christine Murray got Amy Trenkamp to pop out to first in foul territory to end the inning with no damage done.
The Bulldogs then pushed across one run in the top of the fourth, as senior Angie Walls singled to left field with the bases loaded to drive in McKenzie Morenus from third and push the Bulldogs lead to 2-0.
Charleston Southern finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, as Murray hit Trenkamp with a pitch to put a runner on first with two outs. First-baseman Megan Hall then hit a line drive double to centerfield that just scooted under the glove of a diving Melinda Dulkowski for the Lady Buccaneers first hit of the game. With runners on second and third, clean-up hitter Gail Matshusima hit a line drive that sailed over the left field fence putting the Lady Buccaneers on top 3-2 heading into the seventh and final inning of play.
Gardner-Webb did not roll over, as shortstop Melody Harrell got things started with a single to right center with one out. After a sacrifice bunt moved Harrell up to second, Charleston Southern elected to intentionally walk Fullwood to face Ward with two outs. Ward delivered for the Bulldogs, as the junior belted her second double of the game to score both Harrell and Fullwood and put the Bulldogs on top 4-3.
Yet the Bulldogs did not stop there, as Morenus then singled in pitch-runner Kelly Montgomery from third base to push the GWU lead to 5-3.
After Charleston Southern's Ashley Fowler led off the inning with a walk, GWU's Murray put the next three Lady Buccaneer hitters down in order to pick up the 5-3 win, its first ever Big South Conference Championship tournament victory.
Murray (10-16) picked up the win, as she surrendered three runs on only two hits while striking out four in seven innings of work. Charleston Southern's Jamie Wellons (13-19) was handed the loss.
Ward led the Bulldogs at the plate, as she was 2-4 with two doubles and three RBI, while Morenus was 2-4 with an RBI. Witter was 2-4 with a double.
For Charleston Southern, Matshushima was 1-3 with a three-run home run, while Hall had the lone other hit for the Lady Buccaneers.
"I give all the credit in the world to Charleston Southern as they were down 2-0 and used a big three-run home run to take a 3-2 lead," commented GWU head coach Tom Cole. "In return I give credit to our girls for battling back from behind in our last at bat to get the win."
Coach Cole on the Bulldogs first-ever Big South postseason win, "When it is the first win it is always big," commented Cole. "To win like this is incredible."
The Bulldogs will take on No. 1 Radford at 5 p.m., while Charleston Southern will play tomorrow, Friday, May 8, at 12:30 p.m.
| Box Score: GWU 5, CSU 3 |
