Runnin' Bulldogs Post a Seven-Run Fourth to Defeat the Buccaneers, 7-1, on Saturday
April 20, 2013 | Softball
Charleston, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team exploded with a seven-run fourth and picked up a season-high nine strikeouts from junior pitcher Ashley Rhyne on Saturday afternoon, as the Runnin' Bulldogs defeated the Charleston Southern Buccaneers 7-1 at the CSU Softball Field in Charleston, S.C.
The win pushes Gardner-Webb to 10-27 overall and 5-14 in Big South play, while the loss drops Charleston Southern to 10-37 overall and 3-16 in conference play.
After seeing wet field conditions move the scheduled 2 p.m. doubleheader to a 4 p.m. single game on Saturday afternoon, both teams' offenses struggled early on, as the two teams combined for just two hits over the first two innings of play.
Gardner-Webb threatened to score first in the top of the first, as junior Samantha Meenaghan led off the game with a single up the middle. Following a sacrifice bunt by outfielder Kellie Beres and a base-on-balls to redshirt-junior Morgan Baker, a foul ball out to right field allowed both Meenaghan and Baker to advance up a base to put runners on second and third with two outs. However, a ground ball out back to the pitcher ended the top half of the inning as the Buccaneers got out of the early jam to keep the game scoreless.
The Runnin' Bulldogs' Mariana Gallardo would post the next hit of the game, a two-out double to right center field in the top of the second, yet failed to put together a string of hits as the game remained scoreless through two and half innings of play.
Charleston Southern got its first base runner of the game in the bottom of the third, as right fielder Hayes Holdsworth drew a two-out walk. After pinch runner Lizzy Olmstead stole second, fellow outfielder Ari Tedesco singled through the right side on a 3-2 pitch to score Olmstead and put the home team in front early at 1-0 after three complete.
Looking to get the run back, Gardner-Webb's Savannah Burns singled up the middle to lead off the top of the fourth inning. Following a walk to freshman designated player Scarlett Harris and a bunt single to third by redshirt-senior Melinda Dulkowski to load the bases, senior third-baseman Jordyn Arrowood hit a ground ball to the first-baseman who went to the plate on the play to get the lead runner and the first out in the inning.
The out did not deter the Runnin' Bulldogs' offense in the inning, as Gallardo lined her second double of the game to right center field to drive in both Harris and Dulkowski and put the visitors on top for the first time in the game at 2-1.
After an RBI ground out to third by pinch hitter Elizabeth Williams plated Arrowood from third, Meenaghan would hit a two-out single to center field to score Gallardo and put the Runnin' Bulldogs out in front by three at 4-1. A Meenaghan stolen base and a CSU fielding error on a Beres ground ball brought up Baker who blasted a three-run home run down the left field line to cap off a seven-run fourth and put the Runnin' Bulldogs on top big at 7-1. The home run was Baker's team-high eighth of the season.
GWU's Rhyne pitched out of trouble in the bottom of the fourth, the Runnin' Bulldog offense looked to add to its lead in the top of the fifth as Dulkowski and Arrowood tallied back-to-back singles with one-out. However, the next two batters would foul out and strike out to halt GWU's scoring chance and keep the score at 7-1 heading into the bottom half of the fifth.
The Buccaneers, who stranded one runner in the fifth, put two base runners on by way of a walk and a Marci Christian single to start off the bottom of the sixth as the home team attempted to cut into the GWU lead. However, a pop out, a fly out in foul territory and a strike out swinging would get the Runnin' Bulldogs out of the inning with no damage done to send the game into the seventh with Gardner-Webb still on top at 7-1.
Each team would post a single in the seventh, yet neither recorded a run as the Runnin' Bulldogs held on for the 7-1 road win.
Rhyne (6-11) earned the complete game victory for the Runnin' Bulldogs, as the junior went the distance, holding the Buccaneers to only one run on five hits, three walks and a season-high nine strikeouts.
The loss went to the Buccaneers' Jennifer Giles (6-27), as the starter allowed seven runs, four of which were earned, on seven hits, two walks and two strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work.
At the plate, Baker was 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, three RBIs and a run scored, while Gallardo was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. Dulkowski was 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Meenaghan was 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.
For the Bucs offensively, Tedesco (1-for-4, RBI), Christian (1-for-3), Linzy Rother (1-for-3), Melanie Stickney (1-for-3) and Courtney Konyck (1-for-2) all had one hit on the day.
The win pushes Gardner-Webb's winning streak to three-straight games.
Gardner-Webb (10-27, 5-14 Big South) and Charleston Southern (10-37, 3-16 Big South) will return to the field tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader set for a 1 p.m. start at the CSU Softball Field.
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| Box Score: GWU 7, CSU 1 |
