Rhyne and Baker Lead GWU to a 3-2 Win over Coastal Carolina on Saturday
March 30, 2013 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb junior pitcher Ashley Rhyne held the high powered Coastal Carolina offense to only two runs on two hits, while redshirt-junior Morgan Baker lined a two-out RBI single to center field in the bottom of the seventh to propel the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 3-2 Big South Conference win over the Chanticleers at Varsity Field on Saturday afternoon in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The victory snaps a 16-game losing streak for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who improve to 4-20 overall and 1-9 in Big South play. With the loss Coastal Carolina falls to 20-13 overall and 7-2 in League action.
With the scored knotted up at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Runnin' Bulldogs picked up a one-out infield single by second-baseman Samantha Meenaghan to start the rally. After a sacrifice bunt from sophomore outfielder Kellie Beres moved Meenaghan up to second, Baker hit a two-out scorching line drive to center field to score Meenaghan from second and give the home team the 3-2 walk off win.
After both teams scored in the second inning, Coastal Carolina on a walk, GWU throwing error and a ground ball, and the Runnin' Bulldogs on a bases loaded sacrifice fly to right field to put the score at 1-1, Gardner-Webb took its first lead of the three-game series on an RBI single up the middle by designated player Mariana Gallardo in the bottom of the third to pull in front at 2-1 through three innings played.
Coastal Carolina tied the game up for a second time in the top of the fourth, as Jazmin Daigle, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning, scored on an RBI double to left center by outfielder Brooke Donovan to put the score at 2-2.
Baker's clutch two-out RBI single in the Runnin' Bulldogs' last at bat sent the home team on to the field in celebration of the 3-2 home win, its first home win on the season.
GWU's Rhyne (2-8) earned the win, as the starter held Coastal Carolina to two runs on only two hits and three walks, while striking out one in the complete game win.
The loss went to the Chanticleers' Kiana Quolas (11-6), as the starter gave up three runs, one of which was earned, on seven hits and two walks, while recording two strikeouts over 6.2 innings of work.
Both Baker and Gallardo were 1-for-3 with an RBI single, while Meenaghan was 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Taylar Pridgen and Jordyn Arrowood were also both 1-for-3 at the plate on the day.
Coastal's two hits came by way of Donovan, who was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Jessie Wynans, who was 1-for-3 with a single.
Gardner-Webb (4-20, 1-9 Big South) will step out of Big South Conference play to travel to Cullowhee, N.C. for a doubleheader with Western Carolina on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 4 p.m. Coastal Carolina (20-13, 7-2 Big South) will take on Charleston Southern in a conference twin tilt on Tuesday, April 2nd, in Charleston, S.C.
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| Box Score: GWU 3, Coastal 2 |
