Late Comeback Effort Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to No. 2 Campbell on Thursday Night
May 10, 2013 | Softball
Rock Hill, S.C. - Gardner-Webb posted two runs in the top of the seventh, yet saw its late inning comeback effort come up one run short in a 4-3 loss to No. 2 Campbell in the first round of the 2013 Big South Softball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting on Thursday at Terry Field in Rock Hill, S.C.
The loss drops GWU to 13-30 overall and into the loser's bracket, while Campbell improves to 38-19 overall and advances into the second round of play.
The Fighting Camels got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first, as outfielder Sarah Forgacs hit a one-out single to center field. After Forgacs swiped second, freshman Courtney Klingler was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. First-Team All-Conference selection Raven Lee then singled to left field to load the bases for outfielder Shane Jones who hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to plate Forgacs and put the home team in front early at 1-0.
Gardner-Webb tied the score up in the top of the third, as senior Jordyn Arrowood drew a one-out walk and then moved up to second on an infield single by catcher Taylar Pridgen. With two on and one-out, Big South First-Team All-Conference honoree Samantha Meenaghan singled down the right field line to load the bases for sophomore Kellie Beres. Beres then hit a fly ball to left field to plate Arrowood from third and knot the game up at 1-1.
GWU starter Ashley Rhyne got out of trouble in the bottom of the third, as the Fighting Camels put runners on first and second with one out on back-to-back singles from Klingler and Lee. CU's Jones then hit a tailing fly ball to right center field where centerfielder Melinda Dulkowski tracked down the ball made the catch and abruptly threw the ball behind pitch runner Amanda Daw at second base to complete the inning ending double play.
Shortstop Savannah Burns drew a lead-off walk to start the top of the fourth inning, however, after a Mariana Gallardo sacrifice bunt moved the sophomore up to second the next two GWU batters flied out to strand Burns and leave the score tied up at 1-1.
Campbell jumped back out in front in the bottom of the fourth, as second-baseman Shaela Churchill blasted a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Fighting Camels the lead once more at 2-1. The home run was Churchill's third of the season.
One inning later in the bottom of the fifth, Klingler added to the Campbell lead with one swing of the bat, belting a two-run home run the left center field to push the Camels' lead to three at 4-1. The two-run shot was Klingler's, the Big South Freshman of the Year, 13th on the year.
Two batters later, Campbell's Jones looked to increase the Fighting Camels' lead once more with a long ball of her own, however, GWU's Dulkowski had other plans, as the redshirt-senior outfielder jumped up at the wall in left center field and saved the ball from going over to hold Jones to a single and keep the home team off the scoreboard.
Runnin' Bulldogs' hurler Jessica Childers then entered the game and got a strikeout and a pop out to second to get out of the jam and keep the Fighting Camels' lead to three at 4-1 through five innings of play.
Trailing Campbell 4-1 heading into the final inning of play, the Runnin' Bulldogs refused to quit, as freshman Jill Blank led-off the inning with a single up the middle. After a GWU strikeout, Pridgen sent a ball over the outfielders' heads for a one-out double to put runners on second and third with one out.
Meenaghan kept the visitors in the game, as she hit an infield single to short to plate Blank and cut the Campbell lead to two at 4-2.
With Beres at the plate, Pridgen would score from third on a wild pitch to put the score at 4-3 in favor of the Fighting Camels.
However, the comeback would come up just short, as a fly out and pop out ended the inning and allowed Campbell to escape with the 4-3 win.
The win went to Campbell's Courtney Roberts (19-6), as the righty allowed three runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out four GWU batters over seven innings of work.
GWU's Rhyne (8-13) was handed the loss, as the junior gave up four runs on nine hits and one walk, while striking out two in 4.1 innings of work.
For GWU offensively, Pridgen was 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while Meenaghan was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Beres was 0-for-3 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly, while Blank was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Campbell was led at the plate by Klingler, who was 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored, while Churchill was 1-for-3 with a home run.
No. 7 Gardner-Webb (13-30) will return the field tomorrow morning, Friday, May 10th, to take on the loser of tonight's finale between No. 6 Liberty and No. 3 Longwood.
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| Box Score: Campbell 4, GWU 3 |
