Meenaghan and Williams Homer in Loss to Radford on Senior Day
April 27, 2013 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team picked up home runs from Samantha Meenaghan and Elizabeth Williams, yet it wasn't enough as the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to Radford 11-8 on Senior Day, Saturday afternoon, at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Prior to the first pitch on Saturday, GWU recognized its four seniors in Presley Wesson, Brittney Morrow, Jordyn Arrowood and Melinda Dulkowski.
The loss snapped GWU's winning streak at three games and dropped the Runnin' Bulldogs to 13-29 overall and 8-16 in Big South play. With the win, Radford snapped a nine-game losing streak and improved to 17-32 overall and 10-11 in conference play.
Despite the loss, GWU took the three-game series over Radford 2-1 with its doubleheader sweep on Friday afternoon.
Radford got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second, as a led off walk and a passed ball let catcher Emily Naegele reach second with one out in the inning. Senior outfielder Morgan Eye then singled to center field to plate Naegele and put the visitors in front at 1-0.
The Highlanders pushed its lead to 3-0 with two more runs in the top of the third, as third-baseman Jessie Hutchens and Naegele tallied back-to-back RBI singles to left field in a four hit inning for the away team.
Down 3-0, Gardner-Webb got two runs back in the bottom half of the third inning, as sophomore catcher Taylar Pridgen led off with a single to third to bring up the top of the order. Junior Samantha Meenaghan followed with a two-run home run that scraped over the left field fence just out of reach of the Radford left fielder to cut the Highlander lead back to one at 3-2. The blast was Meenaghan's fourth of the season.
However, Radford would blow open the game in the top of the fifth, posting six runs on six hits, all with two outs, to run out to a 9-2 lead over GWU. In the inning, the Highlanders had a two-run home run from Naegele and a three-run home run from senior second-baseman Jessica Agee to help pull out in front of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
After the Highlanders added two more runs in the top of the sixth by way of a Naegele sacrifice fly and an Eye RBI single through the right side to increase its lead to nine at 11-2, the Runnin' Bulldogs refused to raise the right flag.
With the rain beginning to fall, the Runnin' Bulldogs registered a six-run sixth on six hits to battle its way back into the contest.
GWU's Dulkowski started the sixth inning rally with a single to left center, which was followed by a base-on-balls to Morrow. With runners on first and second and one out, pinch hitter Williams hit a scorching line drive that sailed over the fence in left center field for a three-run home run to put the home team down six at 11-5. The home run was Williams' first of the year.
The Runnin' Bulldogs then registered three infield singles from Arrowood, Pridgen and Kellie Beres to load the bases with two outs. With redshirt-junior Morgan Baker at the plate, Radford hurler Stephanie Dameron threw a wild pitch, which allowed Arrowood to score from third on the play and put the score at 11-6 in favor of the Highlanders. Three pitches later, Baker hit a sharp ground ball up the middle to drive in both Pridgen and Beres and cut the Radford lead to three at 11-8 with one inning to play.
Gardner-Webb got a one-out single from Morrow and saw freshman outfielder Jill Blank reach base safely on a Radford fielding error, yet saw the game come to an end on a double play with the Highlanders holding on for the 11-8 road win.
The loss went to GWU's Ashley Rhyne (8-12), as the junior, who re-entered the game in the top of the seventh, allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on five hits and one walk, while striking out one over a total of 3.1 innings of work.
Radford's Rachel Walters (13-11) held on for the win, as the lefty gave up two runs on five hits, while striking out three batters over five innings of action. Jackie Jenkins (1) earned her first save of the season in the win.
Meenaghan, who was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, led GWU at the plate, while Williams was 1-for-1 with a home run and three RBIs, led GWU offensively. Pridgen was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Beres was 2-for-4 with a run scored in the contest.
For Radford offensively, Naegele was 2-for-2, with a home run, a walk, a sacrifice fly, four RBIs and two runs scored, while Eye was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Gardner-Webb (13-29, 8-16 Big South) will have almost two full weeks off from play, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will next compete at the 2013 Big South Softball Championship Tournament presented by Musco Sports Lighting from May 9-12th in Rock Hill, S.C.
Radford (17-32, 10-11 Big South) will hit the road for a non-conference doubleheader at Appalachian State on May 1st at 4 p.m.
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| Box Score: Radford 11, GWU 8 |
