Runnin' Bulldogs Score 20 Runs in Double Header Sweep of the Lady Aggies on Wednesday Afternoon
March 17, 2011 | Softball
Greensboro, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team pushed across 20 runs over its double header sweep of the North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action at the Aggie Softball Complex in Greensboro, N.C.
Gardner-Webb took game one 11-1 in five innings and then erased an early 2-0 deficit to defeat the Lady Aggies 9-5 in game two of the twin bill.
With the two wins, GWU improves to 8-14 overall on the young season.
Game 1: Gardner-Webb 11, N.C. A&T 1 (five innings)
The Runnin' Bulldogs used a five run fourth and rode the right arm of junior hurler Cindy Boomhower to an 11-1 five inning win over the Lady Aggies in game one on Wednesday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb freshman Samantha Meenaghan led off the game with a single and a stolen base to put a runner on second for GWU to start the contest. After moving up to third on a ground ball out, redshirt-freshman Morgan Baker ripped a double to right field to score Meenaghan and put the Runnin' Bulldogs on top early at 1-0.
Baker struck again in the top of the third, this time hitting a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to put the visitors up 3-0 after 2.5 innings of play.
In the top of the fourth, the Runnin' Bulldogs took advantage of three walks, poor fielding and a Lindsea Hutchinson three-run bases clearing double to left field, to score five runs and push GWU out in front big at 8-0.
The Lady Aggies put up one run in the bottom of the fourth by way of three hits and two a GWU error, but that would be all, as the Runnin' Bulldogs picked up three more insurance runs in the top of the fifth on three RBI singles to put the game away at 11-1 in five innings.
Boomhower (4-7) earned her fourth win on the young season, holding N.C. A&T to only one run, which was unearned, on six hits, while striking out three in four innings of work, while freshman pitcher Alyssa Gutierrez pitched a perfect fifth.
Offensively, Hutchinson was 3-3 with a double, a walk and four RBIs, while Baker was 2-2 with a home run, a double, four RBIs and three runs scored.
For the Lady Aggies, infielder Lauren Clement was 2-2, while Hope Fletcher was 2-3 at the plate.
Game 2: Gardner-Webb 9, N.C. A&T 5
Gardner-Webb overcame an early 2-0 deficit to score nine nuns over four innings to defeat the Lady Aggies 9-5 in game two of the twin bill, completing the sweep of N.C. A&T.
GWU's Jordyn Arrowood reached third base by way of a bunt single and two stolen bases in the top of the first, but was stranded on third as the Runnin' Bulldogs failed to take a first inning lead over the Lady Aggies.
Rather it was North Carolina A&T who took the early lead, as Ryanne Hill blasted a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to put the home team up early 2-0 after one inning of play.
After striking out the side in the bottom of the second, the Runnin' Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the third as Meenaghan, who tripled earlier in the inning, scored on an RBI single to center by Baker cutting the N.C. A&T lead to one at 2-1.
However, the run seemed to ignite the GWU offense, as in the top of the fourth, after back-to-back walks to start the at bat, freshman Rachel Jablonski dropped down a one out RBI bunt single to score Jane Savage from third and tie the score up at 2-2.
In the same inning, redshirt-sophomore Melinda Dulkowski belted a double to left center to plate two runs, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs its first lead of the game at 4-2.
Gardner-Webb had some help in the top of the fifth, as the Runnin' Bulldogs' Baker scored on two wild pitches, while Savage scored on a N.C. A&T fielding error, pushing the Runnin' Bulldogs in front at 6-2.
The Lady Aggies got a run back in the bottom half of the fifth by way of a Fletcher walk and a Dominique Gillard RBI double to left center, cutting the GWU lead to three at 6-3.
However, the Runnin' Bulldogs were not done scoring, plating three runs on three hits and one N.C. A&T error in the top of the sixth, highlighted by RBI singles by Savage and Hutchinson, taking a demanding 9-4 lead.
N.C. A&T pushed across one run in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough as Gardner-Webb held on for the 9-5 road win.
Gardner-Webb freshman Jessica Childers (4-6) earned the win, allowing three runs on only three hits, while striking out seven Lady Aggie hitters over five innings of work.
For N.C. A&T, Tranea Jones (0-6) was saddled with the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits and four walks, striking out two in 4.1 innings of action.
At the plate, Meenaghan was 3-5 with a triple and two runs scored, while Dulkowski was 1-4 with a double and two RBIs. Savage was 1-2 with two walks, one RBI and three runs scored, while Baker was 2-4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored.
For the Lady Aggies offensively, Hill was 2-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored, while Fletcher was 2-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Gardner-Webb (8-14) will have a week off before opening up Big South Conference play on Thursday, March 24th, against Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. The conference twin bill is slated for a 2 p.m. start time.
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| Game 1 Box Score: Gardner-Webb 9, N.C. A&T 5 |
| Game 1 Box Score: Gardner-Webb 11, N.C. A&T 1 (five innings) |
