GWU Blasts Eight Extra Base Hits in Doubleheader Sweep of Charleston Southern on a Rainy Saturday Afternoon
April 24, 2010 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb's offense came out in full force on Saturday afternoon, as the Lady Bulldogs blasted eight extra base hits, including four home runs to defeat Charleston Southern, 3-2 and 7-5, in a Big South Conference twin bill in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The doubleheader sweeps puts Gardner-Webb at 17-28 overall and 7-9
in conference play, while Charleston Southern falls to 24-26-1
overall and 7-10 in the Big South with the two losses.
Game 1:
Gardner-Webb 3, Charleston Southern 2
Gardner-Webb allowed a run in the first and one in the seventh, yet
overcame Charleston Southern's two runs with three runs of its own
to come away with the 3-2 win in game one.
Charleston Southern's Megan Hall homered to right field in the top
of the first to put the Buccaneers on top early at 1-0.
Gardner-Webb answered back in the bottom half of the inning, as
senior Christa Fullwood scored from second on a Kelsey Witter
single up the middle to knot the score up at 1-1.
GWU's Christine Murray settled down after giving up the first
inning run, holding Charleston Southern scoreless over the next
four innings of play.
The Lady Bulldogs offense broke through again in the bottom of the
fourth, as senior catcher Mandy Ward led off the inning with a
towering home run to left field to push the home team in front
2-1.
Coach Cole's squad added an insurance run in the sixth, as Ward led
off the inning with a double to center. After Witter reached base
safely on an error and moved pinch runner Jessica Milligan to third
on the play, sophomore Lindsea Hutchinson drove in Milligan from
third on a ground ball to the right side, putting GWU up 3-1
heading into the final inning of play.
The insurance run was key, as Charleston Southern scored an
unearned run on two hits and a GWU error in the top of the seventh
to cut the lead to one at 3-2 before junior hurler Cindy Boomhower
got Megan Lombard to ground out to third to end the game.
GWU's Murray (9-14) picked up the win, allowing only one run on two
hits while striking out two in five innings of work, while
Boomhower (2) picked up the save surrendering one unearned run on
two hits while striking out four in two innings of relief work.
Charleston Southern's Sondra Vetter (8-15) was handed the loss, as
the righty gave up three runs on five hits while striking out three
over six innings of action.
At the plate Gardner-Webb was led by Ward, who was 2-3 with a home
run, a double, an RBI and a run scored, while Fullwood was 2-3 with
a run scored and Witter was 1-3 with an RBI.
Offensively for Charleston Southern, Jana Matthews was 2-3 with a
run scored, while Hall was 1-3 with a home run, an RBI and a run
scored.
Game 2:
Gardner-Webb 7, Charleston Southern 5
The Lady Bulldogs offense stayed hot despite the rain, as GWU
belted three home runs to pull out to a 7-2 lead en route to
holding off Charleston Southern for the 7-5 win in game two.
Gardner-Webb ran out to an early lead, as Fullwood hit a solo home
run to left field to lead off the first, to put GWU on top 1-0.
The offense for the home team continued in the second inning, as
GWU plated three runs on four singles, highlighted by a two-run
single up the middle off the bat off sophomore outfielder Jane
Savage, pushing its lead to four at 4-0.
However, Charleston Southern refused to throw in the towel, as the
Buccaneers scored two runs in the top of the third on a two walks,
a GWU error and two hits, pulling the visitors to within two at
4-2.
In the bottom of the third, Witter got into the scoring act, as the
junior belted a home run over the left center field fence, giving
the Lady Bulldogs a 5-2 lead.
Gardner-Webb added a run in the bottom of the fourth on
back-to-back doubles by Fullwood and McKenzie Morenus and then
another run in the fifth off a Hutchinson homer to left, pushing
GWU out to its largest lead of the game at 7-2.
Charleston Southern added three runs in the top of the seventh off
a two-out three-run home run by catcher Erin Kegley, but it wasn't
enough as the Lady Bulldogs held on to the 7-5 win.
GWU's Boomhower (6-10) when the distance for the complete game win,
surrendering five runs, four of which were earned, on eight hits,
while striking out six for the contest.
The Buccaneers' Kimberly Hobbs (9-7) picked up the loss, as she
gave up seven runs on 10 hits, while striking out three in five
innings of work.
Fullwood was 2-3 with a home run, a double, a walk, an RBI and two
runs scored, while Hutchinson was 2-3 with a home run, an RBI and
two runs scored. Morenus was 2-4 with a double and two RBIs, while
Witter was 1-3 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored.
Shayla Cullum led the Buccaneers, as the third-baseman was 3-4 with
an RBI, while Kegley was 1-3 with a home run, three RBIs and a run
scored.
Gardner-Webb will look to complete the three-game weekend series
sweep tomorrow afternoon, as the Lady Bulldogs will host Senior Day
prior to the 1 p.m. start time at Varsity Field.
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| Game 2 Box Score: Gardner-Webb 7, Charleston Southern 5 |
| Game 1 Box Score: Gardner-Webb 3, Charleston Southern 2 |
