Gardner-Webb Outhits Winthrop in Home Loss on Sunday Afternoon
April 07, 2013 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team outhit the Winthrop Eagles 9-8 in the single game on Sunday afternoon; however, the Runnin' Bulldogs left eight runners on base in the 7-5 home loss to the Eagles at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The loss drops Gardner-Webb to 4-25 overall and 1-12 in the Big South, while the win pushes the Eagles to 20-17 overall and 8-5 in League play.
After both teams failed to drive in a run over the first two innings, the offense picked up in the third as both the Eagles and the Runnin' Bulldogs plated four runs apiece in the frame.
Winthrop started the scoring off in the top half of the third, as both designated player Chelsey Schoenfeldt and third-baseman Alex White each hit a two-run home run to put the visitors on top at 4-0.
However, the Runnin' Bulldogs quickly erased the Winthrop lead in the bottom half of the inning, as an RBI triple by junior Samantha Meenaghan got the inning started off on the right track. Meenaghan then abruptly scored on an bunt single by sophomore outfielder Kellie Beres, who's smart base running caused the Eagles' to make an errant throw and allow Meenaghan to walk in from third.
With the score at 4-2, GWU continued to cut into the lead in the bottom half of the third, as two batters later sophomore shortstop Savannah Burns doubled off the fence in left center field to plate both Beres and Morgan Baker to tie the score up at 4-4 through the first three innings of play.
Gardner-Webb threatened to take its first lead of the game in the fourth, yet saw both freshman Jill Blank and Meenaghan stranded on first and second to end the inning and keep the game tied at four apiece.
Winthrop took advantage, as the Eagles loaded the bases with one out to start the fifth. Gardner-Webb got White to hit a sharp ground ball to third, however, the throw to home plate to get the lead runner hit off the shoulder of the base runner and sent the ball scurrying past the catcher to allow a second run to score and push the Eagles in front by two at 6-4.
The Eagles added another run two batters later with the help of a GWU wild pitch to take a three run lead at 7-4 into the bottom of the fifth.
Refusing to quit, the home team got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single to left center by Burns to cut the Winthrop lead back to two at 7-5 with two innings to play in the contest.
Nevertheless, neither team would score over the final two innings of play, as the Runnin' Bulldogs stranded one in the sixth and two more in the seventh to fall to the Eagles 7-5.
GWU's Ashley Rhyne (2-10) suffered the loss, as the junior entered the game as a relief pitcher in the third inning. She gave up three runs, all of which were unearned, on three hits and three walks, while registering three strikeouts over the final 4.1 innings of the game.
Winthrop's Schoenfeldt (2-4) earned her second win of the series in yet another relief effort on Sunday, as the righty gave up one run on five hits, while striking out four batters over the final 4.2 innings of play.
Offensively for GWU, Burns was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Meenaghan was 3-for-4 with a triple, a double, an RBI and a run scored. Baker was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Beres was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.
For Winthrop at the plate, White was 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Schoenfeldt was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored.
Gardner-Webb (4-25, 1-12 Big South) will kick-off a 10-game road stretch starting next Tuesday, April 9th, with a Big South doubleheader in Clinton, S.C. versus the Presbyterian College Blue Hose. First pitch is slate for 2 p.m.
###
| Box Score: Winthrop 7, GWU 5 |
