GWU Softball Drops Two at Coastal Carolina on Saturday
May 01, 2011 | Softball
Conway, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs struggled with the bats on Saturday afternoon, as the Runnin' Bulldogs collected only three runs on seven hits, while striking out 21 times in the two losses to Coastal Carolina at the CCU Softball Field in Conway, S.C.
The Runnin' Bulldogs fell to the Chanticleers 3-0 and 11-3 on Saturday, falling to 5-12 overall in conference play on the season.
Game 1: Coastal Carolina 3, Gardner-Webb 0
In game one, the Runnin' Bulldogs offense was non-existent, as GWU managed only two hits over the seven inning game to fall to the Chanticleers 3-0.
The Chanticleers took a 1-0 lead into the third, as the home team scored on an Olivia Williams RBI single through the right side with two outs.
Gardner-Webb picked up its first hit of the game in the top of the third, as redshirt-sophomore Melinda Dulkowski singled to short and then advanced to second on a throwing error, putting the Runnin' Bulldogs in scoring position. However, the next GWU batter grounded out to end the inning and leave the score at 1-0 in favor of Coastal Carolina.
The Runnin' Bulldogs second and final hit of the game came in the top of the fourth, as sophomore shortstop Jordyn Arrowood singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Yet, Gardner-Webb failed to score, as the next three hitters went down in order.
With the score still at 1-0 in favor of the Chanticleers heading into the late innings, the home team pushed across two runs on five hits, highlighted by RBI singles by Brooke Donovan and Chelsea Pineda, to take a 3-0 lead into the final inning of play.
In GWU's final at bat in the top of the seventh, the Runnin' Bulldogs put one runner on base by way of a walk, yet once again failed to score as Coastal Carolina took the 3-0 home win.
Gardner-Webb starter Cindy Boomhower (6-14) was handed the loss, as she allowed three runs on 12 hits, while striking out one in six innings.
Coastal Carolina's Ashley Bagwell (11-13) earned the complete game shutout win, holding the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless on two hits, while striking out 13 over seven innings.
Offensively, Arrowood was 1-3, while Dulkowski was 1-1 with a sacrifice.
For Coastal Carolina, Donovan was 2-3 with a walk and an RBI, while Pineda and Williams were both 1-3 with an RBI.
Game 2: Coastal Carolina 11, Gardner-Webb 3
Gardner-Webb took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, a 3-2 lead in the fifth, yet failed to put the game away in the late innings, giving up eight runs to Coastal Carolina in the bottom of the sixth to suffer an 11-3 six-inning loss in game two.
While both teams struggled at the plate over the first three innings of contest number two, combining for only four hits while leaving five runners stranded on base, the Runnin' Bulldogs finally broke through in the top of the fourth when senior Kelsey Witter singled through the right side to score junior catcher McKenzie Morenus to put the visitors up 1-0.
However, the GWU lead did not last long, as the Chanticleers took its first lead of the game in the bottom half of the fourth inning, as Ashley Pisone blasted a two-run home run to put the home team on top at 2-1.
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered with two runs in the top of the fifth to retake the lead. Freshman Rachel Jablonski led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to second on a passed ball. After a bunt single by Dulkowski moved Jablonski up to third, Dulkowski then stole second to put runners on second and third with no outs.
Lead-off hitter Samantha Meenaghan then struck out, only to reach base safely on a throwing error by the Coastal Carolina catcher while running to first-base, which allowed Jablonski to score from third to tie the score up at 2-2.
With Dulkowski on third, Meenaghan stole second. On the play, the throw went wild, allowing Dulkowski to score from third on the throwing error and give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.
After Coastal Carolina tied the score up at 3-3 on an RBI single to right center field by Jazmin Daigle in the bottom of the fifth and Gardner-Webb went down in order in the top of the sixth, Coastal Carolina blew the game open in the bottom half of the inning, plating eight runs on eight hits and one GWU error.
A two-run double by Michelle Evans, an RBI double by both Williams and Jesse Winans, and RBI singles by Pineda, Daigle and Beth Kassuhn pushed the home team in front and helped give the Chanticleers the 11-3 win.
Freshman Jessica Childers (9-11) suffered the loss, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits, while striking out six in five innings of work.
Coastal Carolina's Bagwell (12-13) picked up her second win of the day, this one in two innings of relief work, allowing two unearned runs on one hits, while striking out six.
At the plate, Witter was 1-3 with an RBI, while Morenus was 1-3 with a double and a run scored.
For Coastal Carolina, Donovan was 4-4 with two doubles and two runs scored, while Pisone was 2-2 with a two-run home run, two walks, two RBIs and a run scored.
Gardner-Webb (15-26, 5-12 Big South) will play its final game of the 2011 regular season slate tomorrow afternoon, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will look to avoid the three-game sweep to Coastal Carolina. The first pitch is slated for 1 p.m. in Conway, S.C.
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| Game 1 Box Score: Coastal Carolina 3, Gardner-Webb 0 |
| Game 2 Box Score: Coastal Carolina 11, Gardner-Webb 3 (6) |
