GWU's Ward Delivers Game-Winning RBI Single in the Ninth to Defeat Winthrop, 2-1
April 27, 2010 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb senior Mandy Ward had a one out bases loaded walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Gardner-Webb a 2-1 Big South victory over Winthrop on a rain filled Tuesday afternoon at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The Lady Bulldogs overcame the rain and a 56 minute lightning delay
to defeat Winthrop 2-1 in nine innings, moving GWU to 18-29 overall
and finishing its conference regular season slate at 8-10.
The Lady Bulldogs got on the board first, when in the bottom of the
second sophomore Lindsea Hutchinson hit a line drive that just flew
over the top of the fence in left center field, putting
Gardner-Webb up 1-0.
Winthrop loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, yet failed to
score as GWU escaped with out allowing a run, holding on to its 1-0
lead.
However, in the top of the sixth the Lady Eagles scored a run on a
GWU throwing error, knotting the score up at 1-1.
Gardner-Webb went down in order by way of three ground balls in the
bottom of the sixth, leaving the score tied up at 1-1 heading into
the final inning of play.
Yet before the seventh got under way, thunder clapped in the dark
sky and lightning was detected, delaying the game for at least 30
minutes.
After a 56 minute delay to the lightning and thunder in the area, the teams resumed action, as both Winthrop and Gardner-Webb went down in order in the seventh, sending the game to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Winthrop advanced shortstop Megan Chapman
up a base, putting her on third with only one out. However,
Gardner-Webb hurler Cindy Boomhower shut the door quickly, as the
junior got the next two batters to ground out to first, keeping the
score tied up at 1-1.
In GWU's half of the eight, the Lady Bulldogs were able to advance pinch runner Jessica Milligan up to third base on a Kelly Montgomery sacrifice bunt. Yet, like their counterparts, Gardner-Webb's next to batters made outs, forcing the game to a ninth inning.
Winthrop advanced its lead runner to third with only one out, but
for the second straight inning saw its chance to score slip away,
as Boomhower once more shut the door, getting the next two Lady
Eagles out.
With the score still tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth,
Gardner-Webb's Jane Savage remained at second base as the first GWU
hitter grounded out to short for one out. Winthrop then elected to
intentionally walk senior first-baseman Christa Fullwood to put
runners on first and second with only one out. McKenzie Morenus
stepped up and hit a ground ball to the pitcher, who turned to get
the lead runner at third, only to have the ball drop out of the
third-baseman's glove on the bang-bang play, loading the bases with
only one out.
After fouling off three pitches, Ward then hit a laser line drive
over the shortstops head that rolled all the way to the fence,
scoring Savage from third and giving the Lady Bulldogs the 2-1
extra inning conference win.
The RBI was the 100th career RBI for Ward in her career at GWU.
All three of the contests between these two teams this season have
gone into extra innings.
GWU's Boomhower (7-10) picked up the complete game win, as the righty allowed only one run on four hits, while striking out seven over nine innings of work.
Winthrop's Cari Wooldridge (13-12) was handed the loss, as she gave
up two runs, only which one was unearned, on two hits, while
striking out six in 8.1 innings.
Gardner-Webb's lone to hits came by Ward, who was 1-4 with an RBI,
and Hutchinson, who was 1-3 with a home run, an RBI and a run
scored.
For Winthrop, Ashlee Revell was 2-3, while Chelsey Schoenfeldt was
1-3 with a double.
Gardner-Webb will return to action tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, April 28, as the Lady Bulldogs will host Winston-Salem State in a non-conference double header at Varsity Field at 2 p.m.
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| Box Score: Gardner-Webb 2, Winthrop 1 (9) |
