Rhyne, Childers and the Runnin' Bulldogs Blank Radford 1-0 and 5-0 in Twin Tilt on Friday
April 27, 2013 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb hurlers Ashley Rhyne and Jessica Childers posted back-to-back complete game shutouts versus the Radford Highlanders, as the Runnin' Bulldogs earned a 1-0 and 5-0 win in the Big South Conference twin tilt on Friday afternoon at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The Runnin' Bulldogs, which held Radford to only seven hits over the 14 innings of play, improve to 13-28 overall and 8-15 in Big South play with the sweep. The Highlanders fall to 16-32 and 9-11 in conference play with the losses.
Game 1: GWU 1, Radford 0
Sophomore catcher Taylar Pridgen delivered a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning to push the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 1-0 win in game one of the twin bill.
GWU looked to get on the scoreboard early in the bottom of the first, as junior Samantha Meenaghan led off the game with an infield single then advanced to second on a single by shortstop Savannah Burns two batters later. However, a ground ball out to the pitcher ended the threat to keep the game scoreless through one inning of play.
After Radford posted two hits and left two stranded in the top of the third, the Runnin' Bulldogs Meenaghan led off the bottom of the third with a single through the left side. A fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt attempt by sophomore outfielder Kellie Beres put runners on first and second with no outs.
Yet just like in the bottom of the first, GWU failed to push across a run in the inning, as the next three batters went down in order to send the game to the fourth tied at 0-0.
An infield single by freshman Jill Blank with one out got the bottom of the fourth going for GWU, as senior third-baseman Jordyn Arrowood was hit by a pitch in the next at bat to put runners on first and second. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Pridgen singled through the left side to drive in Blank from the third to put the home team up 1-0.
GWU's Rhyne held Radford to three hits over the final three innings of play and kept the visitors off the scoreboard to help guide the home team to the 1-0 shutout win.
Rhyne (8-11), who earned her fourth straight win with the victory,
held Radford to only five hits and three walks, while striking out
four in the complete game shutout win.
Radford pitcher Rachel Walters (12-11) suffered the loss, as the lefty allowed one run on seven hits and two walks, while striking out eight over six innings of work.
At the plate, Pridgen was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Blank was 2-for-2 with a walk and run scored and Meenaghan was 2-for-4 in the lead-off spot.
For Radford offensively, designated player Megan Honaker was 3-for-3, while Hilari Hopkins was 1-for-2 and Ryndee Ruch was 1-for-3 in the game.
Game 2: GWU 5, Radford 0
GWU's Childers allowed only three runners on base for the entire game, as the Runnin' Bulldogs plated a run in the first, three in the third and another one in the sixth to pull away with a 5-0 win in game two.
Radford recorded two hits in the first inning, yet saw its scoring chance halted by an outfield assist from left fielder Beres and a strikeout by Childers to keep the visitors off the scoreboard early.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took an early lead in the bottom of the first, as an infield single to the pitcher by Meenaghan started the inning off on the right foot. After a sacrifice bunt and a fly out, Burns singled up the middle to drive in Meenaghan and put the home team on top at 1-0 after one inning of play.
Gardner-Webb added three runs in the bottom of the third on a two-run double to left center field off the bat of Morgan Baker and then an RBI single two batters later by redshirt-senior Melinda Dulkowski to push the home team in front by three at 3-0 through three complete.
Childers did not allow a hit over the final six innings of play, while the only other Radford base runner to reach safely came in the top of the fifth on a GWU error.
GWU added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Beres in which Meenaghan scored all the way from second on the fly ball to deep centerfield.
Childers (4-11) went the distance, as she held Radford to only two hits, while striking out four in the complete game win. Childers did not walk a single batter in the contest.
The loss went to RU's Jackie Jenkins (3-20), as the junior allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on 12 hits, while striking out one over six innings of play.
Meenaghan continued her hot bat in game two, as the second-baseman was 4-for-4 with three runs scored, while Baker was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Burns was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Dulkowski was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
For Radford, Becky Mantel and Honaker were both 1-for-3 for the game.
Gardner-Webb (13-28, 8-15 BSC) and Radford (16-32, 9-11 Big South) will play the third and final game of the three-game conference series tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. noon, weather permitting. The Runnin' Bulldogs will hold its Senior Day festivities prior to the first-pitch at approximately 11:45 a.m.
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| Game 1 Box Score: GWU 1, Radford 0 |
| Game 2 Box Score: GWU 5, Radford 0 |
