Runnin' Bulldogs Suffer 4-3 Road Loss at Winthrop on Tuesday Night
April 20, 2011 | Softball
Rock Hill, S.C. - For the fourth straight game, the Gardner-Webb softball team took a lead into the late innings only to see it evaporate, as the Runnin' Bulldogs gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth to fall 4-3 to the Lady Eagles of Winthrop at Terry Field in Rock Hill, S.C.
After Winthrop took a 2-0 first inning lead on two walks, a GWU error and a Veronica Berrie RBI single up the middle, the Runnin' Bulldogs answered with two runs of its own in the top of the second to tie the score up at 2-2.
With one out in the top of the second, senior outfielder Kelsey Witter singled through the right side. After freshman Rachel Jablonski sacrificed Witter to third, redshirt-sophomore Melinda Dulkowski reached base safely on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Witter to score. The next GWU batter Samantha Meenaghan reached on an error by the second-baseman, while heads up base running by Dulkowski allowed her to score all the way from first on the error to tie the score up at 2-2.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took its first lead of the game in the top of the fifth, as Meenaghan lead-off the inning with a single, then stole second and later scored on a two our RBI single to left field by junior catcher McKenzie Morenus to put the visitors up 3-2.
However, the Runnin' Bulldogs again failed to finish the game out strong and put their opponent away, as Winthrop scored two runs on four hits, two wild pitches and a walk, highlighted by RBI singles by Ashleigh Jackson and Jenna Harbin, to retake the lead 4-3 heading into the seventh and final inning.
Down one in the top of the seventh, the Runnin' Bulldogs hit three straight ground ball outs to end the game with the Lady Eagles on top 4-3, completing the regular season series sweep of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
GWU's Cindy Boomhower (4-13) suffered the loss, giving up four runs, three of which were earned, on five hits and four walks, while striking out three over 5.2 innings of work.
Winthrop's Chelsey Schoenfeldt (8-10) earned the complete game win, allowing only three runs, one of which was earned, on seven hits and one walk, while striking out four in the win.
At the plate, Morenus was 2-3 with one RBI, while Witter was 1-3 with a run scored and Meenaghan was 1-4 with a run scored.
For Winthrop offensively, Harbin was 1-2 with a walk and an RBI, while Jackson and Berry were both 1-3 with an RBI.
Gardner-Webb (11-23, 3-9 Big South) have dropped six straight games and will look to turn things around this weekend, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will travel down to Charleston, S.C. to take on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in a three-game Big South Conference series. GWU will play a double-header on Friday, April 22nd, at 2 p.m., while the third and final game is slated for Saturday, April 23rd, at 2 p.m.
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| Box Score: Winthrop 4, Gardner-Webb 3 |
