GWU Uses Three Run Fifth to Defeat Presbyterian College, 3-2, on Tuesday
April 05, 2011 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to erase a 2-0 deficit and defeat the Presbyterian College Blue Hose 3-2 in Big South action at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C. on Tuesday afternoon.
The one-run win was Gardner-Webb's seventh of the season and second over Presbyterian College this year.
Gardner-Webb's 3-2 win pushed them to 11-17 overall and 3-3 in the Big South, while the loss drops Presbyterian to 18-8-1 overall and 5-3 in the Big South. The win also gave the series win to the Runnin' Bulldogs who had defeated the Blue Hose 3-2 in game two of a conference doubleheader back on March 24th in Clinton, S.C.
After both teams stranded one runner on base in the first inning, Presbyterian was able to get on the scoreboard first, pushing across a run on an RBI single off the bat of catcher Jennifer Marshall in the t op half of the second inning which put the visitors up 1-0 early.
Presbyterian doubled its lead with one swing of the bat in the top of the third, as Morgan Durham blasted a solo home run over the left field fence to put the Blue Hose up 2-0.
Both teams continued to leave runners on the base paths over the next two innings, until Gardner-Webb broke through with a little help from the PC defense in the bottom of the fifth.
GWU freshman second-baseman Samantha Meenaghan reached base on a PC fielding error to lead off the inning. Sophomore Jordyn Arrowood then singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. After GWU first-baseman Morgan Baker hit a laser through the left side of the infield to load the bases, junior catcher McKenzie Morenus hit a deep fly ball to the warning track in right field to score Meenaghan from third on the sacrifice fly and advance both Arrowood and Baker into scoring position.
Still down 2-1 with one out, Lindsea Hutchinson hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher who mishandled the ball trying to make a play at home, which allowed Arrowood to score and tie the score up at 2-2.
The next GWU hitter was Jane Savage, as the junior outfield ripped a line drive just inside the left field line, scoring Baker from first to give the Runnin' Bulldogs its first lead of the game at 3-2.
The one-run lead was all that pitcher Jessica Childers would need, as she put the Blue Hose down in order in the top of the sixth.
However, PC threatened to tie the game up in its final at bat, as left-fielder Lindsey Trombley led off the inning with a bunt single. After being moved up to second by way of a Tera Powell sacrifice bunt, shortstop Amanda Miller flied out to right field, yet advanced Trombley to third on the play.
With two outs in the tying run on third, Presbyterian's Durham, who had hit a solo home run in the third inning, was at the plate. Childers got Durham to strike out swinging to give both her and the Runnin' Bulldogs the 3-2 conference home win.
Childers (7-7) earned the complete game win, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out six in the seven inning contest.
PC's Leslie Hensley (12-4) was handed the loss, as she allowed three runs, all of which were unearned on nine hits and two walks, while striking out three over six innings of work.
At the plate, Meenaghan, Arrowood and Baker were all 2-4 with a run scored, while Savage was 1-3 with a double and an RBI.
For PC offensively, Durham was 1-3 with a solo home run, while Hensley was 2-3 and Marshall was 1-2 with an RBI.
Gardner-Webb (11-17, 3-3 Big South) will not return to action until next week, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will host the Winthrop Lady Eagles for a twin bill on Wednesday, April 13th at 2 p.m. at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
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| Box Score: Gardner-Webb 3, Presbyterian College 2 |
