GWU's Childers Strikes Out 12 in 1-0 Extra Inning Loss to No. 1 Radford
May 11, 2012 | Softball
Radford, Va. - Gardner-Webb sophomore pitcher Jessica Childers struck out a season-high 12 batters, however, the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to the top seeded Radford Highlanders 1-0 in 10-innings in game eight of the 2012 Big South Softball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting and Brookwood Farms Barbeque Friday at Radford Softball Field in Radford, Va.
GWU looked to jump on top of the Highlanders in the top of the first, as the first two batters reached base safely on a Radford fielding error and a base-on-balls. However, a 5-6-4 double play on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Radford spoiled the Runnin' Bulldogs first inning rally and the Highlanders got out of the jam with no runs scored.
The Runnin' Bulldogs threatened again in the third, as the visitors loaded the bases with one out by way of two more Radford fielding errors and a base-on-balls. Yet again Radford's Micalah Sacre got out of the jam, as the righty got the next two GWU batters to pop out to third and strikeout swinging to end the inning.
Radford, who put a runner on base in both the first and the third innings, yet threatened for the first time in the bottom of the fourth as third-baseman Vicki Madden earned a one-out walk. First-baseman Jessie Hutchens then lined a double to left center field to put runners on second and third with one out.
Gardner-Webb's Childers got the next two Radford batters to strike out swinging and foul out to the shortstop to end the inning and keep the score tied up at 0-0 through four innings of play.
Sophomore Samantha Meenaghan posted the Runnin' Bulldogs' first hit of the game to lead off the top of the fifth, however, a ground out and a 5-4-3 double play ended the inning for the Highlanders.
In the bottom of the sixth, Radford lead-off hitter and Big South Player of the Year Nichole Beall battled to pick up a lead-off base-on-balls and then abruptly stole second. GWU's Childers got the next three batters to go down in order, stranding Beall on second, leaving the score tied up at 0-0 heading into the seventh.
After a ground ball out to lead-off the top of the seventh, Melinda Dulkowski and Meenaghan posted back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with one out. A line out to left field and a strikeout by Sacre ended the inning, as the Runnin' Bulldogs stranded their eighth and ninth runners of the game.
In the bottom half of the inning, Childers and the Runnin' Bulldogs got the Highlanders to go down in order to send the scoreless game to extra innings.
GWU got a one-out walk to Morgan Baker and an infield single to Savannah Burns to put runners on first and second. A ground ball to first moved both runners up to scoring position, yet the next Gardner-Webb batter would fly out to center to end the top of the eighth.
After Radford went down in order once again in the bottom of the eighth by way of a ground out and back-to-back strikeouts, Gardner-Webb's Meenaghan posted a one-out single in the top of the ninth yet was stranded on first as the Runnin' Bulldogs failed to score.
The Highlanders, who picked up their first hit since the fourth inning, put runners on first and second with one out to start the bottom of the ninth. GWU's Childers continued her great performance, as she posted back-to-back strikeouts against the next two Radford hitters to keep the score tied at 0-0.
A great defensive player by the Highlander infield in the top of the 10th, a double play up the middle, got the home team out of the top of the 10th inning, which was all that the top-seed would need as senior Hannah Ojeda singled up the middle to drive in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th to give Radford the 1-0 extra inning win.
GWU's Childers (8-13) was handed the loss despite striking out a season-high 12 batters over 9.2 innings of work, while Radford's Jackie Jenkins (17-8) picked up the win holding the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless over the final 2.2 innings of the 10-inning contest.
Offensively for GWU, Meenaghan, who reached base safely every time at the plate, was 3-for-5, while Burns was 1-for-3 with a walk and Dulkowski was 1-for-4.
For Radford at the plate, Ojeda was 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI, while Hutchens was 2-for-4 with a double and Ryndee Ruch was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
The Runnin' Bulldogs left 12 runners on base in the contest, while Radford turned three double plays in the game.
Gardner-Webb will return to action this evening, as the No. 5 seeded Runnin' Bulldogs will take on the No. 7 seeded Presbyterian College Blue Hose at approximately 5 p.m.
Radford, who advanced to the semifinals with the win, will return to action tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m.
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GWU Head Coach Tom Cole
"It was a great game. It was a tough game to lose, but we will bounce back. I give all the credit to Radford as they played a very good game. I am proud of the way our girls played. Jessica Childers was outstanding. We just could not get that one big clutch hit."
| Box Score: No. 1 Radford 1, No. 5 GWU 0 (10-innings) |
