No. 6 GWU Falls to No. 2 Liberty on a Solo Home Run on Friday Afternoon
May 13, 2011 | Softball
Rock Hill, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs suffered a 1-0 loss to the No. 2 seeded Liberty Lady Flames on Friday afternoon at the 2011 Big South Softball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting, as the difference in the game was a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning by Liberty.
Gardner-Webb falls to 18-27 overall on the year, while Liberty improves to 28-28 on the season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs looked to start the game off on the right track, as freshman second-baseman Samantha Meenaghan led off the game with a bunt single to third. However, the next GWU hitter popped out to second on a bunt attempt which allowed Meenaghan to get doubled up on first to help end the first inning threat.
Liberty's lead-off hitter Ashley Bensinger reached base safely to start the bottom of the first on a GWU fielding error, while Jenny Law singled to left to put runners on first and second with no outs. Yet the Runnin' Bulldogs did not panic, as freshman starting pitcher Jessica Childers struck out the next three Liberty batters to keep the Lady Flames off the scoreboard.
After Gardner-Webb went down in order in the top of the second, Liberty's Sammi Shivock lined a one-out single to left field. However, the GWU defense came up big once more, as the Lady Flames' Keely McMillon grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
In the top of the third, freshman third-baseman Rachel Jablonski led off the inning with a base-on-balls and was moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of designated player Michelle Primm. After a GWU strikeout, Meenaghan singled through the right side to put runners on first and third with two outs. Sophomore Jordyn Arrowood then slapped a ground ball back to the pitcher who threw her out at first to end the top of the third.
Again Liberty threatened to score in the bottom half of the third, as Bensinger ripped a one-out single to left and then advanced to second on a Law sacrifice bunt. Liberty's Meredith Crisante then singled to right field where Gardner-Webb's Jane Savage fielded the ball, took one-step and fired the ball the plate where catcher McKenzie Morenus applied the tag to nail Bensinger at home for the third out of the inning.
Over the next two at bats, the Runnin' Bulldogs failed to reach base going down in order in each of the fourth and fifth innings, which left the door open for the Liberty Lady Flames as in the bottom of the fifth Shivock led off the inning with a solo home run to left center field to put the home team up 1-0.
GWU's Meenaghan singled to left in the top of the sixth, however, the Runnin' Bulldogs failed to score leaving the score at 1-0 in favor of Liberty.
In the bottom half of the sixth, another GWU double play kept the Lady Flames in check to keep the score at 1-0 heading into the final inning of play.
Gardner-Webb's Savage posted a two-out single to left in the top of the seventh, only to have her stranded on base as the Lady Flames held on for the 1-0 win.
Childers (10-12) suffered the loss, allowing only one earned run on six hits, while striking out four Liberty hitters in six innings of work.
Liberty's Katrina Johnson (14-13) picked up the complete game win, giving up only four hits, while striking out four.
At the plate for GWU, Meenaghan was 3-3 with three singles, while Savage was 1-3 with a single.
For Liberty, Shivock was 2-2 with a solo home run, while Crisante was 2-3 for the game.
No. 6 Gardner-Webb and No. 2 Liberty will play once more, facing off at 5:30 p.m. at Terry Field with the winner advancing to the 2011 Big South Championship game and the loser seeing its season come to an end.
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| Box Score: No. 2 Liberty 1, No. 6 Gardner-Webb 0 |
