GWU's Late Rally Falls Short; Drops Series Finale at Radford, 8-7, on Saturday Afternoon
April 03, 2010 | Softball
Radford, Va. - The Gardner-Webb softball team dropped the third and final game of a three-game conference series with the Radford Highlanders on Saturday afternoon, as the Lady Bulldogs late rally fell just short in the 8-7 loss to the Highlanders in Radford, Va.
Like in both games on Friday afternoon, the Highlanders scored first, as the home team scored three runs on three hits and two GWU errors in the bottom of the second to jump out to an early 3-0 lead over the Lady Bulldogs.
Gardner-Webb looked to answer in its next at bat, as the Lady Bulldogs put two runners on with only one out to start the top of the third. However, the next two GWU hitters would strike out, ending the inning and leaving two runners stranded on base.
After the Highlanders went three-up and three-down in the bottom of the third, GWU senior first-baseman Christa Fullwood led off the top of the fourth with a single to right. Sophomore designated player McKenzie Morenus followed with a single through the middle to put two runners on with no outs.
The next GWU hitter flied out for the first out of the inning, bringing up outfielder Kelsey Witter to the plate. Witter delivered, as the junior doubled to right field, scoring Fullwood and moving Morenus to third. However, Witter was thrown out at second on the play and the next GWU batter popped out to the shortstop to end the threat and keep the score at 3-1 in favor of the Highlanders.
Radford pushed its lead to 4-1 in the fifth, as preseason Big South Conference Player of the Year selection Kristen Shifflett homered to left field to lead off the inning. The home run looked to be the beginning of the end for the Lady Bulldogs, as two GWU errors and three Radford hits later, the Highlanders ran out on top 7-1 after five innings.
However, Gardner-Webb refused to throw in the white flag, as senior catcher Mandy Ward blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence in the sixth to but the Lady Bulldogs back into the game, down three at 7-4.
Radford added an insurance run on a Sarah Himan RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to put its lead at 8-4 heading into the final inning of play.
The Lady Bulldogs again refused to go down without a fight, as this time it was a three-run home run off the bat of Morenus that cut the Highlander lead to one at 8-7 with only one out in the inning.
However, Radford ace and starting pitcher Chelsea Kelly re-entered the game to get the final two GWU batters out to secure the 8-7 win for the Highlanders.
Gardner-Webb's Christine Murray (6-11) got the loss, as the senior gave up six runs, three of which were earned, on six hits, while striking out five over 4.1 innings of work.
Radford's Kelly (13-5) picked up the win, her second in two days over the Lady Bulldogs, as the lefty allowed four runs on seven hits, while striking out three GWU hitters over six total innings.
At the plate, Gardner-Webb was led by Morenus, who was 3-4 with a three-run home run, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Witter was 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Fullwood was 2-4 with three runs scored, while Ward was 1-4 with a three-run home run.
For Radford offensively, Hope Creasy was 2-2 with two runs scored, while Shannon Keefe was 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Michelle Beall was 1-2 with three RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base, while Shifflet was 1-4 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored.
The Lady Bulldogs (11-23, 1-4 Big South) will stay on the road and in conference play for its next game, as Coach Cole's squad will travel to Clinton, S.C. to face off with Presbyterian College for the rubber game of its three-game series on Wednesday, April 7. The two teams split a double header back on Saturday, March 27, in Boiling Springs, N.C. The first pitch of the single game is slated for 3:30 p.m.
Radford (20-10, 8-1 Big South) will also return to action on Wednesday afternoon, as the Highlanders will take on James Madison in a non-conference double header at 4 p.m. in Harrisonburg, Va.
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| Box Score: Radford 8, Gardner-Webb 7 |
