GWU Softball Drops Two Extra Inning Games to Winthrop on Tuesday Night
April 14, 2010 | Softball
Rock Hill, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb women's softball team suffered two heartbreaking losses on in Rock Hill, S.C. on Tuesday night, as the Lady Bulldogs dropped both games in extra innings to Winthrop, falling 6-3 in eight innings in game one and then dropping game two 2-1 in eight innings.
The two losses drop Garner-Webb to 15-25 overall and 5-6 in conference play, while the two narrow wins moves Winthrop to 22-16 overall and 5-3 in the Big South.
Game 1: Winthrop 6, Gardner-Webb 3 (8)
Gardner-Webb knocked nine hits in game one on Tuesday night, yet it wasn't enough as Winthrop blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to pick up the 6-3 conference win.
The Lady Bulldogs got on the board first in the top of the first inning, as senior catcher Mandy Ward hit a solo shot over the center field fence to give GWU an early 1-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb added a run in the top of the fifth on a Jane Savage RBI single to push its lead to 2-0 over the Lady Eagles.
However, Winthrop's offense broke through in the bottom of the fifth, as Ashlei Jackson led off the inning with a solo home run to cut the GWU lead in half at 2-1.
With only a one run lead heading into the final inning of play, Gardner-Webb looked to add an insurance run as sophomore second-baseman Michelle Primm led off the inning with a single to right. After a GWU pop out, Savage singled to left field to put runners on first and second with only one out and the top of the order up. Senior Christa Fullwood delivered with a clutch double to left center, scoring pinch runner Alison Coffey from second and putting the GWU lead back to two at 3-1.
The Lady Bulldogs were only two outs away and looked to push its winning streak to five in a row when the Lady Eagles Veronica Berrie singled up the middle. Winthrop's Megan Chapman then stepped up to the plate to homer to left field and knot the score up at 3-3 and force the game into extra innings.
After Gardner-Webb failed to score in the top of the eighth, the Lady Eagles had one more home run left in them, as this time Revell connected on a three-run home run to give Winthrop the 6-3 extra inning win.
GWU's Christine Murray (8-12) suffered the loss, as the senior was tagged for six runs, four of which were earned, on eight hits, while striking out two Lady Eagle hitters over the seven inning contest.
Winthrop's Megan Evans (9-6) was awarded the win, as she surrendered three runs on nine hits, while striking out five GWU hitters in eight innings of work.
Gardner-Webb's Savage was 2-3 with an RBI, while Fullwood was 2-4 with a double and an RBI and Ward was 1-3 with a home run and an RBI.
For Winthrop, Chapman was 2-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored, while Revell was 1-1 with a three-run home run and Jackson was 1-3 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored.
Game 2: Winthrop 2, Gardner-Webb 1 (8)
In game two, Gardner-Webb again outhit the Lady Eagles 9-6 however, again the home team came through in the eighth inning to escape with a 2-1 win.
Gardner-Webb put a runner on base safely in each and every inning, yet failed to push across a run until the top of the seventh when Fullwood hit a sacrifice fly to plate freshman Jordyn Arrowood and put the Lady Bulldogs up 1-0.
Similar to the Lady Bulldogs, Winthrop put a base runner on in every inning but the fifth, but couldn't score until a GWU error in the bottom of the seventh allowed Pearl Coleshill to cross the plate, tie the game up at 1-1 and force the contest into extra innings for the second straight game.
The Lady Bulldogs put two runners on in the top of the eighth, yet were unsuccessful in scoring the go ahead run, leaving the door open for the Lady Eagles.
Like in game one, Winthrop took advantage of being the home team and getting the last at bat, as the Lady Eagles Chapman singled down the left field line to drive in Jenna Harbin from third and give Winthrop the 2-1 win.
Gardner-Webb's Cindy Boomhower (5-10), the reigning Big South Pitcher of the Week, was handed the loss, as the junior gave up two runs, both of which were unearned, on six hits, while striking out six in seven innings of action.
Winthrop ace Cari Wooldridge (12-9) picked up the win, as she allowed one run on nine hits, while striking out six GWU batters over eighth innings in the circle.
Offensively, Gardner-Webb was led by Fullwood, who was 1-3 with an RBI, while McKenzie Morenus and Ward were both 2-4 for the game. Arrowood was 1-3 with a double and a run scored, while junior Kelsey Witter was 1-3 with a triple.
At the plate for Winthrop, Chapman was 1-4 with an RBI, while Coleshill was 1-3 with a run scored.
Gardner-Webb will return to action this weekend, as the Lady Bulldogs will travel to Lynchburg, Va. to take on the Liberty Lady Flames in a three-game weekend conference series on April 16-17. The two teams' will play a double header on Friday, April 16, at 2 p.m. and will then play the third and final game of the series on Saturday, April 17, at 1 p.m.
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| Game 2 Box Score: Winthrop 2, Gardner-Webb 1 (8) |
| Game 1 Box Score: Winthrop 6, Gardner-Webb 3 (8) |
