No. 6 GWU Upends No.3 PC with a 3-2 First Round Win on Thursday Morning
May 12, 2011 | Softball
Rock Hill, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs took advantage of five Presbyterian errors and a strong performance by redshirt-junior pitcher Cindy Boomhower to upend the No. 3 seeded Presbyterian Blue Hose for a 3-2 first round win at the 2011 Big South Softball Championship presented by Musco Lighting in on Thursday morning in Rock Hill, S.C.
Gardner-Webb threatened in the top of the second, as senior Kelsey Witter led off the inning with a double to right center field. After moving up to third on a PC error, Witter was stranded at third as the next the final two hitters grounded out and struck out to end the inning.
Presbyterian took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the second, as Taylor Staten ripped a two-out single up the middle and then stole second. Kayla Handy then hit a flare single to right to plate Staten to put the Blue Hose up 1-0 early.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took the lead in the top of the third, as centerfielder Melinda Dulkowski lead-off the inning with a bunt, in which she reached base safely and advanced to second on a PC throwing error. Samantha Meenaghan then singled through the left side to score Dulkowski from second and knot the score up at 1-1.
After Meenaghan advanced to third on a fielder's choice, the 2011 Big South Freshman of the Year, scored on a wild pitch three batters later to push the Runnin' Bulldogs in front at 2-1.
However, the lead did not last long, as in the bottom half of the third inning Tera Powell lead off the inning with a single to right center then advanced to third on a head's up base-running play. Powell then scored on a squeeze play to tie the score up at 2-2 after three innings of play.
After both teams' offenses struggled over the next two innings, GWU threatened in the top of the sixth putting two runners on by way of back-to-back singles. However, a double play and ground out ended the Runnin' Bulldogs scoring chance leaving the game knotted up at 2-2.
The Runnin' Bulldogs got things going in the top of the seventh off a single to third by freshman designated player Emily Bowman. After Dulkowski reached first safely on a sacrifice bunt attempt, which also moved Bowman up to third, Meenaghan lined out to short in which Dulkowski was doubled up off first to give PC two outs and halt the GWU scoring inning.
With two outs and a runner on third, Arrowood then singled to third base to plate Bowman and put the Runnin' Bulldogs up 3-2 heading into the seventh.
Presbyterian's Staten led-off the seventh with a line drive single to third, putting the tying run on first with no outs. GWU hurler Cindy Boomhower did the rest, as the junior struck out the next two Blue Hose hitters and then got Powell to ground out to give GWU the 3-2 first round win.
Boomhower (7-14) earned the win, allowing two earned runs on six hits, while striking out five for the complete game win.
PC's Leslie Hensley (18-12) suffered the loss, allowing three unearned runs on seven hits, while striking out four in seven innings of work.
At the plate, Witter was 2-3 with a double, while Arrowood was 2-4 with an RBI. Meenaghan was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Bowman and Dulkowski each scored a run in the win.
For PC offensively, Staten was 2-3 with a run scored, while Powell was 1-4 with a run scored and Kayla Handy was 1-2 with an RBI.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will next play at 5:30 p.m., where GWU will take on the winner of the 12:30 p.m. game between No. 2 Liberty and No. 7 Winthrop.
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| Box Score: No. 6 Gardner-Webb 3, No. 3 Presbyterian 2 |
