GWU Softball Earns a Split on Sunday; Takes Series Win over Charleston Southern on the Weekend
April 22, 2013 | Softball
Charleston, S.C. - Gardner-Webb earned a doubleheader split with the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in a Big South doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, which gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the series win over the Bucs over the weekend in Charleston, S.C.
GWU suffered 4-3 loss in game one, but bounced back to take game two 7-4 to earn the split in the twin bill.
Gardner-Webb improved to 11-28 overall and 6-15 in the Big South with the split, while the Buccaneers move to 11-38 overall and 4-17 in conference play.
Game 1: CSU 4, GWU 3
The Runnin' Bulldogs overcame an early 1-0 deficit in the top of the sixth, yet surrendered three runs to the Charleston Southern Buccaneers over the final two innings of play to fall 4-3 in game one of the twin bill on Sunday.
Charleston Southern got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning, as outfielder Jana Matthews singled through the left side of the infield with the bases loaded to plate right fielder Ari Tedesco and put the home team in front at 1-0.
After stranding five base runners over the first five innings of play, Gardner-Webb's offense broke through in the top of the sixth as redshirt-senior Melinda Dulkowski ripped a one-out double to left center field to drive in two runs and put the Runnin' Bulldogs in front at 2-1.
However, the GWU lead did not stand for long, as a walk and two straight Runnin' Bulldog throwing errors allowed two runners to score for the Buccaneers in the bottom of the sixth, as the home team retook the lead at 3-2 with one inning to play.
A bases loaded ground out off the bat of freshman Scarlett Harris in the top of the seventh tied the game up at 3-3 with the home team coming to bat.
Following a pop out for the first out in the bottom half of the seventh inning, the Bucs' Marci Christian then hit a solo shot to left field to give the home team the 4-3 walk-off win. The home run was Christian's 13th of the season.
GWU' s Jessica Childers (3-11) was handed the loss, as the junior gave up four runs, two of which were earned, on six hits, five walks and six strikeouts over 6.1 innings of action.
The win went to the Bucs' Jennifer Giles (7-27), as the CSU starter held GWU to three runs on five hits, five walks and two strikeouts in the complete game win.
Gardner-Webb's Dulkowski was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs on the game, while junior Samantha Meenaghan was 2-for-4 with a run scored. The lone other GWU hit was off the bat of senior Jordyn Arrowood, who was 1-for-3 with a single and a stolen base.
For CSU at the plate in game one, Christian was 1-for-3 with a home run, while Matthews was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Stephanie Sbardella was 2-for-2 with a base-on-balls, while Tedesco was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Gardner-Webb left nine runners on base in the game, while the two teams combined to issue 10 walks overall.
Game 2: GWU 7, CSU 4
The Runnin' Bulldogs bounced back to score three runs over the first three innings and then used a four run fifth to down Charleston Southern 7-4 in game two.
After Gardner-Webb took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a Harris RBI single, Charleston Southern used a three-run home run off the bat of catcher Melanie Stickney in the bottom half of the inning to pull out in front by two at 3-1 after one inning of play.
GWU tied the score up on an error, a sacrifice bunt and a fielder's choice in the top of the second and on an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Savannah Burns in the top of the third to put the score at 3-3 through three complete.
With the score still tied at 3-3 heading into the top of the fifth inning, the Runnin' Bulldogs pulled out in front for good with a four-run inning.
Meenaghan and sophomore Kellie Beres led off the inning with back-to-back infield singles, which brought up the heart of the GWU order. Redshirt-junior Morgan Baker belted a double down the left field line to plate Meenaghan and put the visitors in front once more at 4-3. Burns then singled up the middle to score both Beres and Baker to extend the Runnin' Bulldogs' lead out to three at 6-3.
Three batters later, after a fielder's choice and a Dulkowski single, Arrowood would hit into a fielder's choice that would score Burns from third and push GWU's lead to four at 7-3.
Charleston Southern added a run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a two-out RBI single to left center field by centerfielder Courtney Konyk, yet it wasn't enough as the Runnin' Bulldogs held on for a 7-4 win.
Ashley Rhyne (7-11) recorded her second win of the weekend, as she allowed only four runs on seven hits and six walks, while striking out four in seven innings of action.
The Bucs' Linzy Rother (3-10) suffered the loss, as she gave up seven runs, five of which were earned, on 10 hits and two walks in four innings of play.
GWU's Burns was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, while Baker was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Meenaghan was 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored, while Beres was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Both Arrowood (1-for-2) and Harris (1-for-4) had an RBI in the win.
Charleston Southern was led by Stickney, who was 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs, while Konyk was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Gardner-Webb (11-28, 6-15 Big South) will wrap up its regular season slate next weekend, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will host Radford for a three-game weekend series on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 & 28th. GWU will host Senior Day on Saturday and will recognize Brittney Morrow, Arrowood and Dulkowski prior to the first pitch of the doubleheader slated for 1 p.m. start.
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| Game 1 Box Score: CSU 4, GWU 3 |
| Game 2 Box Score: GWU 7, CSU 4 |
