GWU Softball Blanked at Home by Radford in Conference Doubleheader on Saturday Afternoon
April 02, 2011 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team was held scoreless for 14 innings, as the Radford Highlanders picked up back-to-back shutout wins over the Runnin' Bulldogs, 7-0 and 3-0, in Big South Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The two losses drop GWU to 9-17 overall, 1-3 in the Big South and 2-2 at home this season. Radford improved to 21-11 overall and 3-1 in the Big South with the two wins.
GWU has now lost 10 straight games to the Highlanders on the softball diamond.
Game 1: Radford 7, Gardner-Webb 0
Gardner-Webb picked up only four hits over seven innings in game one, as the Highlanders took a 2-0 first inning lead and never looked back en route to a 7-0 win.
Radford took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a Michelle Beall triple to right center which plated two to give the Highlanders an early lead.
Gardner-Webb's Samantha Meenaghan led off the bottom of the first inning with a single to center, only to have the Runnin' Bulldogs ground into a double play to end the inning.
Radford extended its lead in the top of the fourth, as Michelle Beall led off the inning with a single to short. After a sacrifice bunt, Morgan Eye picked up a pitch hit single to score Beall and put the Highlanders up 3-0. Later in the inning, Lauren Williams picked up a singled up the middle to score one, and then a GWU error allowed a second run to score giving the visitors a 5-0 lead.
After Radford pushed across a run in the top of the fifth, GWU picked up a single in the bottom of the sixth, but to no avail, failing to score in the inning.
Down 7-0 heading into the seventh, as Radford's Nichole Beall hit a towering home run to left field in the top of the inning, Gardner-Webb tallied singles from Jordyn Arrowood and McKenzie Morenus to put runners at first and third with only one out. However, the next GWU grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning and the game with the Highlanders on top at 7-0.
Gardner-Webb's Cindy Boomhower (4-9) suffered the loss, giving up six runs, five of which were earned, on eight hits, while striking out two in five innings of work.
Radford's Stephanie Dameron (8-2) picked up her eighth win of the season, allowing only four hits and one walk, while striking out four in the complete game shutout win.
Offensively, Meenaghan and Melinda Dulkowski were both 1-2, while Arrowood and Morenus were both 1-3.
For Radford at the plate, Michelle Beal was 2-3 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored, while her sister Nichole was 1-3 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored.
Game 2: Radford 3, Gardner-Webb 0
In game two, the GWU offense again failed to push a run across the plate, while freshman hurler Jessica Childers surrendered only one earned run in a 3-0 loss to the Highlanders.
Both teams struggled offensively over the first four innings, as hurlers Childers and Jessica Jenkins of Radford held both offensives at bay, allowing only a combined three hits during that stretch.
In the top of the fourth, Radford got on the scoreboard first, as Taylor Cunningham tripled to right center and then scored on a GWU throwing error, putting the visitors up 1-0.
Gardner-Webb picked up a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of designated player Lindsea Hutchinson, but again saw another runner stranded as the next GWU batter flied out to right.
In the fifth, Radford again took advantage of a GWU error and a passed ball, pushing across a run on a ground ball out to take a 2-0 lead.
Senior Kelsey Witter led off the bottom of the inning with a line drive single to center field and then was moved up to second and third on back-to-back sacrifice bunts. With two outs, the next GWU hitter grounded out to second, spoiling the Runnin' Bulldogs best scoring opportunity of the game.
Radford's Nichole Beall led off the top of the sixth with a solo shot over the center field fence to push the visitors in front at 3-0 heading into the final two innings of play.
Refusing to throw in the towel, GWU's Morgan Baker belted a line drive double to left center in the top of the sixth, but like in the first game, the Runnin' Bulldogs saw the inning end with a Radford double play, keeping the home team off the scoreboard.
Both teams went down in order in the seventh, as Radford's Jenkins' (9-0) picked up a complete game 3-0 shutout win for the Highlanders to remain unbeaten on the season.
Childers (5-7) gave up only one earned run in the game; however, she was still saddled with the loss, giving up three runs and one walk, while striking out three in seven innings of work.
For GWU at the plate, Baker was 2-3 with a double, while Hutchinson and Witter were both 1-3 overall.
For the Highlanders, Beall was 1-3 with a solo home run, while Cunningham was 1-3 with a triple and a run scored.
Gardner-Webb (9-17, 1-3 Big South) and Radford (21-11, 3-1 Big South) will play the third and final game of the weekend conference series on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
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| Game 2 Box Score: Radford 3, Gardner-Webb 0 |
| Game 1 Box Score: Radford 7, Gardner-Webb 0 |
