Runnin' Bulldogs Split Saturday Twin Bill at Charleston Southern
April 23, 2011 | Softball
Charleston, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs and the Charleston Southern Buccaneers split a Big South Conference double-header, as Gardner-Webb posted a 1-0 win in game one and then suffered a 7-3 loss in game two at Buccaneer Field on Saturday afternoon in Charleston, S.C.
The game one win gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the 2-1 series win over the Buccaneers on the weekend and snapped GWU's losing at six-games.
Game 1: Gardner-Webb 1, Charleston Southern 0
The Runnin' Bulldogs only posted one run on three hits, yet it proved to be enough, as the Buccaneers were held scoreless on five hits over seven innings in the win.
The two teams' struggled to score over the first three innings of play, leaving a combined six runners on base and the score at 0-0 heading into the fourth inning.
In the top of the fourth Gardner-Webb scored by way of a McKenzie Morenus home run to center field, her fourth of the season, breaking the scoreless tie and putting the Runnin' Bulldogs up 1-0.
The single run was all that the Runnin' Bulldogs and pitcher Cindy Boomhower would need, as the Buccaneers threatened with two hits in the bottom of the fourth and one in each of the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings, yet failed to score as Gardner-Webb held on for the 1-0 shutout win.
Boomhower (5-13) picked up the win, holding the Buccaneers scoreless on five hits, while striking out five over six innings of work, while freshman hurler Jessica Childers (3) earned the save pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
Charleston Southern pitcher Kimberly Hobbs (12-12) was handed the loss, giving up one run on three hits, while striking out six in seven innings of action.
Morenus provided the offense for GWU, as the junior was 1-3 with a solo home run, while Lindsea Hutchinson and Rachel Jablonski were both 1-3 for the game.
Five different Buccaneers had one hit apiece for the game, all of which were singles.
Game 2: Charleston Southern 7, Gardner-Webb 3
In game two, the Runnin' Bulldogs held on to a three run lead heading into the final two innings of play, only to have Charleston Southern plate six runs in the bottom of the sixth to pick up the 7-4 come from behind win over GWU.
After Charleston Southern took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first off three straight singles capped off by an RBI single up the middle by Megan Lombard, Gardner-Webb battled back to take its first lead of the game in the top of the fifth.
Senior Kelsey Witter lead-off the inning with a double to left field and was immediately moved up to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Jablonski. With Witter on third, Melinda Dulkowski reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Witter from third to tie the score up at 1-1.
GWU then picked up back-to-back singles by Samantha Meenaghan and Jordyn Arrowood to load the bases for the heart of the order with one out. After the next GWU hitter flied out to right, Morenus singled through the right side to drive in two runs and put the visitors up 3-1.
However, the Runnin' Bulldogs, who have failed to put games away in the late innings over the last few weeks, again saw its late lead disappear as the Buccaneers scored six runs on four hits, a walk, a hits batsmen, three wild pitches and a two-run home run by Kristin Kelleher to retake the lead at 7-3 heading into the final inning of play.
Gardner-Webb pushed across one run on an RBI double to left field by Morgan Baker in the seventh, yet failed to plate anymore runs to suffer the 7-4 loss.
Childers (8-10) suffered the loss in relief, allowing four runs on two hits and a base-on-balls, while Charleston Southern's Hobbs (13-12) earned the win, pitching the final 2.2 innings of the game for the Buccaneers.
At the plate, Meenaghan was 3-4 with a run scored, while Morenus was 2-3 with two RBIs. Baker was 1-4 with a double and an RBI, while Witter was 2-3 with a double and run scored.
For the Buccaneers offensively, Kelleher was 1-2 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored, while Lombard was 2-3 with an RBI.
Gardner-Webb (13-24, 5-10 Big South) will return to action on Wednesday, April 27th, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will host South Carolina State in a non-conference twin bill at 2 p.m. at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
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| Game 1 Box Score: Gardner-Webb 1, Charleston Southern 0 |
| Game 2 Box Score: Charleston Southern 7, Gardner-Webb 4 |
