GWU Softball Ready for 2013 Big South Softball Championship This Week, May 9-12th
May 06, 2013 | Softball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team will open up play at the 2013 Big South Softball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting on Thursday evening, May 9th, with its first round game versus No. 2 Campbell set for a 5 p.m. start time in Rock Hill, S.C.
GAME TIMES
The Runnin' Bulldogs will take on No. 2 Campbell on Thursday, May 9th, at 5 p.m. in the first round of the 2013 Big South Softball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting in Rock Hill, S.C.
If Gardner-Webb wins on Thursday night, then the Runnin' Bulldogs will the winner of No. 3 Longwood and No. 6 Liberty at 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon, May 10th.
If GWU loses to No. 2 Campbell on Thursday night, then GWU will play the loser of No. 3 Longwood and No. 6 Liberty at 11:30 a.m. on Friday morning, May 10th.
GWU IN THE BIG SOUTH SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
Gardner-Webb is 8-8 all-time in the Big South Softball Championship Tournament since joining the League in 2008-09. The Runnin' Bulldogs have winning records over Campbell (1-0), Charleston Southern (3-2), Presbyterian (2-0) and Winthrop (1-0) in postseason conference tournament play.
RANKED IN THE TOP-10 IN THE BIG SOUTH STATISTICS
The Runnin' Bulldogs have a number of players who finished the regular season ranked in the top-10 in a number of Big South statistical categories.
- Meenaghan: 4th in batting average (.430)
7th in hits (64)
- Baker: 8th in slugging percentage (.611)
9th in RBIs (38)
- Beres: 1st in SAC bunts (18) / 10th in the nation
BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT BRINGS NEUTRAL SITE GAMES
With the Big South Softball Championship Tournament being held in Rock Hill, S.C., the Runnin' Bulldogs will play a number of neutral site games unless GWU matches up with the host institution in Winthrop. GWU is 2-1 in neutral site contests this season.
RUNNIN' BULLDOGS FINISH SIXTH, DRAW NO. 7 SEED
Gardner-Webb finished in a tie with the Liberty Flames in sixth-place in the final regular season conference standings with identical 8-16 conference records. However, the Lady Flames received the No. 6 seed because they took the regular season series 2-1 over GWU back on April 12-13th in Lynchburg, Va.
GETTING HOT AT THE RIGHT TIME
The Runnin' Bulldogs are getting hot at the right time, as Gardner-Webb has gone 9-4 overall over its last 13 games. GWU, who has posted two three-game winning streaks over its last 13 games, went 7-4 in its final 11 conference contests.
SWINGING THE BAT WELL
Since sweeping PC in a road doubleheader back on April 9th, GWU has had four different players hit over .390 during its last 13 games. Sophomore Taylar Pridgen, freshman Jill Blank and junior Samantha Meenaghan are all hitting over .400 over the last 13 games, while Savannah Burns has driven in a team-high 14 RBIs during that span.
PITCHING KEY IN GWU'S LATE SEASON RUN
It has been the GWU pitching that has been key in GWU's late season run, as over the Runnin' Bulldogs last 13 games, in which Gardner-Webb has posted a record of 9-4 overall. Juniors Ashley Rhyne and Jessica Childers have combined to go 9-4 overall with nine complete games. Rhyne has gone 6-2 overall, while Childers has posted three wins and an ERA of 1.75 in her last seven appearances.
###
| Week 12 Softball Notes - 2013 Big South Softball Championship (May 9-12) |
