Runnin' Bulldogs' Offense Explodes in Road Sweep of Presbyterian
April 09, 2013 | Softball
Clinton, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team saw its offense explode on Tuesday afternoon, as the Runnin' Bulldogs pushed across 13 runs on 19 hits in the doubleheader sweep of the Presbyterian College Blue Hose in Big South Conference action in Clinton, S.C.
Gardner-Webb bested Presbyterian 11-8 in game one and then blanked the Blue Hose 2-0 in game two to complete the sweep.
The two victories push GWU to 6-25 overall and 3-12 in Big South play, while the Blue Hose fall to 18-21 overall and 4-8 in the League play.
Game 1: Gardner-Webb 11, Presbyterian 8
The Runnin' Bulldogs' offense exploded with a nine run third and then added two runs late to overcome an early deficit and defeat the Blue Hose 11-8 in game one of the twin bill.
The 11 runs were the most runs scored in a game by the Runnin' Bulldogs this season, topping the nine runs score in GWU's 9-5 win over Morehead State at the Seahawk Classic back in late February.
Presbyterian jumped on the Runnin' Bulldogs from the very start, as the Blue Hose took an early 7-0 lead in the first inning.
PC's Cat Tarvin got the seven-run inning started for the home team with a two-our RBI single up the middle to plate Jill McLean and put the Blue Hose on top early at 1-0. After the next two batters loaded the bases with a walk and a hit batsman, Erin Taylor doubled to left field to clear the bases and put Presbyterian on top 4-0.
The next two batters in Mary Ellen Morris and Morgan Durham ripped an RBI double and then registered a two-run home run over the left field fence to push the Blue Hose out in front at 7-0 after one inning of play.
After stranding two base runners in the top of the second, Gardner-Webb used a huge nine-run third to take its first lead of the game and quickly erase an early 7-0 deficit.
The Runnin' Bulldogs picked up three infield singles in the top of the third to load the bases with one out. Shortstop Savannah Burns then lined a single to right field to plate two and cut the Presbyterian lead to five at 7-2.
Redshirt-senior Melinda Dulkowski then doubled through the left side to score Morgan Baker from third and put the Runnin' Bulldogs one run closer at 7-3. Fellow senior Jordyn Arrowood drove in another run on an infield ground out to trim the PC lead to 7-4.
Despite the second out, Gardner-Webb continued its big inning as two batters later pinch hitter Mariana Gallardo reached base safely on a Presbyterian fielding error, which allowed Dulkowski to score on the play keep the inning alive.
Down 7-5, sophomore catcher Taylar Pridgen, who led off the inning with an infield single, recorded her second single of the inning, this time driving in designated player Rachel Jablonski from third to put the visitors down only one at 7-6.
GWU's Samantha Meenaghan gave the Runnin' Bulldogs its first lead of the game with one swing of the bat, capping off the inning with a three-run home run to left field to clear the bases and put the visitors in front by two at 9-7. The home run was Meenaghan's second of the season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs added two runs in the top of the fifth by way of a Meenaghan RBI single and a Blue Hose fielding error with the bases loaded to increase its lead to four at 11-7.
Presbyterian, who was held to only one base runner over the third and fourth innings combined, used a one-out single, a walk and another hit batsman to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth.
Following a Gardner-Webb pitching change, the Runnin' Bulldogs walked in a run yet got off the inning with a strikeout and ground out to Arrowood at third to halt the Blue Hose scoring threat and keep the score at 11-8 through five innings of play.
Junior hurler Alyssa Gutierrez shut the PC offense down over the final two innings of play, as she allowed only one hit during that span to help preserve the 11-8 come from behind win for the Runnin' Bulldogs in game one.
Gardner-Webb starter Ashley Rhyne (3-10) earned the win, as the junior gave up eight runs on six hits, three walks and two hit batsmen, while striking out one in 4.1 innings of work. Gutierrez (1) earned the save, allowing only one hit and one walk over the final 2.2 innings of play.
PC's Tarvin (4-2) was handed the loss, as the lefty gave up 11 runs, five of which were earned, on 10 hits and four walks over five innings of action.
Offensively, GWU was led by Meenghan, who was 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored, while Burns was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Pridgen was 3-for-3 with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases, while both Baker (2-for-4, double, run) and Kellie Beres (2-for-4, run, stolen base) recorded two hits apiece in the win.
For Presbyterian at the plate, Durham was 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Taylor was 1-for-1 with two walks, four RBI's and a run scored.
Game 2: Gardner-Webb 2, Presbyterian 0
Gardner-Webb hurler Jessica Childers went the distance, while the GWU offense pushed across a run in both the fourth and the fifth innings to post the 2-0 shutout win over PC in game two and complete the doubleheader sweep.
Presbyterian posted the first hit of the game in pitchers' duel, a bunt single by Tarvin in the bottom of the second inning, yet saw the inning come to an end on a fly out and a strikeout to keep the game scoreless through two innings of play.
Gardner-Webb, who picked up its first hit on an infield single by Jill Blank in the top of the third, finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Burns to put the visitors on top 1-0. The home run was Burns' first of the season.
After Childers put the Blue Hose down in order in both the third and fourth innings, Gardner-Webb doubled its lead in the top of the fifth as Blank, who led off the inning with a single to left center, scored from third on a wild pitch top put the score at 2-0 in favor of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
PC threatened in each of the last three innings, as the Blue Hose put two on base in the bottom of the fifth by way of back-to-back walks and one runner on in both the sixth and the seventh virtue of two doubles, yet Childers and the Runnin' Bulldogs refused to give and got out of each inning unscathed to hold on for the 2-0 shutout win.
Childers (2-9) recorded the complete game win, as she held PC to only three hits and two walks, while striking out two over the seven inning contest.
The loss went to Kelsey Barnette (2-4), as the starter gave up two runs on eight hits and two walks, while posting three strikeouts in seven innings of action.
GWU's Burns was 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk, and an RBI, while Blank was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Jablonski (1-for-3, double), Pridgen (1-for-1, 2 SAC), Dulkowski (1-for-3), Meenaghan (1-for-4) and Beres (1-for-4) all recorded a hit in the game.
For Presbyterian, Petick and Durham were both 1-for-3 with a double in the loss.
Gardner-Webb (6-25, 3-12 Big South) will remain on the road to take on the Liberty Lady Flames this weekend, Friday and Saturday, in a three-game conference weekend series in Lynchburg, Va. Presbyterian (18-21, 4-8 Big South) will host Radford on Saturday and Sunday for a three-game tilt in Clinton, S.C.
###
| Game 1 Box Score: GWU 11, Presbyterian 8 |
| Game 2 Box Score: GWU 2, Presbyterian 0 |
