Big Innings Doom Runnin' Bulldogs in Two Losses to Liberty on Friday
April 15, 2011 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team surrendered 18 runs over a span of four innings in its back-to-back losses to Liberty on Friday afternoon at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C. Liberty scored six runs in the sixth to take game one 14-3 and then score three runs in the sixth in game two to come away with a 5-2 win over GWU.
The two losses drop Gardner-Webb to 11-21 overall and 3-7 in the Big South and push the Runnin' Bulldogs losing streak to four games. Liberty improves to 17-18 overall and 7-3 in conference play with the two wins.
Game 1: Liberty 14, Gardner-Webb 3
After holding Liberty off the scoreboard for the first four innings, the Runnin' Bulldogs allowed 14 runs over the final three innings of the game to fall to the Lady Flames 14-3 in game one of the twin bill.
Gardner-Webb took an early 2-0 lead after one, as redshirt-freshman Morgan Baker ripped an RBI single to center, which was followed up by a RBI double to left center off the bat of junior catcher McKenzie Morenus, putting the home team up 2-0 early.
Liberty didn't record its first hit of the game until the top of the fourth, only to have Gardner-Webb starting pitcher Jessica Childers got the next two Lady Flame hitters to strikeout and ground out to end the inning and keep GWU on top at 2-0.
However, in the top of the fifth is when the wheels fell off for the Runnin' Bulldogs, as Liberty posted four runs on four hits and a walk, highlighted by a two-run home run by catcher Keely McMillon and a two-run double by Jenny Law, to take its first lead of the game at 4-2.
GWU refused to roll over and play dead, as the Runnin' Bulldogs got one run back in the bottom half of the fifth, as redshirt-sophomore centerfielder Melinda Dulkowski scored from third on a wild pitch to cut the Liberty lead to one at 4-3.
That would be as close as the Runnin' Bulldogs would get for the remainder of the game, as Liberty posted six runs in the top of the sixth by way of an Amber Depasquale RBI single, a McMillon bases clearing grand slam and an RBI ground out by Law, pushing the home team out in front big at 10-3.
After Gardner-Webb failed to take advantage of two hits in the bottom half of the sixth, Liberty added four more runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Kelly Strickland, to pick up the decisive 14-3 road win over GWU in game one.
For Liberty, 2010 Big South Pitcher of the Year Tiffani Smith (6-10) picked up the win, allowing three runs on eight hits, while striking out six in six innings of work.
Gardner-Webb's Childers (7-9) was handed the loss, giving up eight runs on eight hits and four walks, while striking out five over five innings of action.
Offensively, Morenus was 2-3 with a double and one RBI, while Baker was 1-4 with an RBI and run scored. Freshman lead-off hitter Samantha Meenaghan was 2-4 with a run scored, while sophomore shortstop Jordyn Arrowood was 2-3 at the plate.
For Liberty, McMillon was 2-3 with a grand slam, two walks, six RBIs and three runs scored, while Law was 3-5 with two doubles and four RBIs and Ashley Bensinger was 4-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Game 2: Liberty 5, Gardner-Webb 2
Like in game one, Gardner-Webb took a lead only to have the Lady Flames score three runs in the top of the sixth to pick up a come from behind 5-2 win.
Liberty took a 1-0 lead on a Kaylee West RBI single to center in the top of the second, only to have Gardner-Webb answer with a two-run fourth on back-to-back two out RBI singles by Rachel Jablonski and Dulkowski to take its first lead of the game at 2-1 heading into the fifth inning of play.
After the Lady Flames tied the score up at 2-2 on a two out RBI single to left by Law in the top of the fifth, the Runnin' Bulldogs attempted to re-take the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Baker lined a one out double down the left field line. However, the next two GWU hitters made outs, stranding pitch runner Emily Bowman on third and keeping the score knotted up at 2-2.
In the top of the sixth, after Liberty's lead-off hitter struck out, the Lady Flames put together back-to-back singles and then took advantage of a GWU fielding error to take a 3-2 advantage. With runners on second and third, McMillon then singled to center to score two and push the Lady Flames out in front by three at 5-2.
Gardner-Webb posted two hits in the bottom of the sixth and had two batters reach base safely on two Liberty errors in the seventh, yet failed to score and left three runners on base, ultimately falling to the Lady Flames 5-2.
Liberty starter Katrina Johnson (10-5) earned the complete game win, holding Gardner-Webb to two runs, both of which were unearned, on seven hits, while striking out five over seven innings.
Junior Cindy Boomhower (4-11) suffered the loss, as the righty gave up five runs, two of which were earned, on 12 hits, while striking out five in seven innings.
At the plate, junior Jane Savage was 2-3, while Jablonski and Dulkowski were both 1-3 with an RBI.
For Liberty, West was 3-3 with an RBI, while McMillon was 2-4 with two RBIs for the game.
Gardner-Webb (11-21, 3-7 BSC) and Liberty are scheduled to play the third and final game of the weekend conference series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., weather permitting. It will be Senior Day for Gardner-Webb, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will honor Kelsey Witter prior to the first-pitch.
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| Game 1 Box Score: Liberty 14, Gardner-Webb 3 |
| Game 2 Box Score: Liberty 5, Gardner-Webb 2 |
