Runnin' Bulldogs Walk Off With Split Against Campbell
March 31, 2014 | Softball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. --- Senior Samantha Meenaghan (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) tallied a pair of three-hit efforts, including a walk-off single in game one, to lead Gardner-Webb to a doubleheader split with Campbell on Sunday in Big South Conference action.
Gardner-Webb (11-22, 1-4 BSC) claimed game one by a score of 2-1 in 10 innings, while Campbell (21-17, 7-4 BSC) took game two, 6-2, to earn a twin-bill split. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored four runs on 14 hits on the day, as Campbell plated seven runs on 13 base knocks.
Meenaghan paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with six hits and nine at-bats, driving in two and stroking a triple. Megan Gibbons (Benson, N.C.) added a trio of base knocks, while Megan Champion (Knightdale, N.C.) and Kellie Beres (Greenville, N.C.) each picked up two hits. Gibbons launched her team-leading third home run to force extra innings in game one as Champion added an RBI in the night cap.
Jessica Childers (Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) pitched a gem in game one, allowing one run on six hits and striking out five in 10 innings, earning her seventh win of the season. Ashley Rhyne (Crouse, N.C.) tossed the first three and two-thirds innings in game two, surrendering three earned runs on six hits and striking out three. Alyssa Gutierrez (Wake Forest, N.C.) pitched the final three and one-third innings, allowing one run and striking out four.
Courtney Klingler led the way for Campbell with four hits, including a home run and two RBI. Kerstine Womack added three base knocks and an RBI, as Jordan Clarke chipped in a pair of hits.
Courtney Roberts got the nod in game one, allowing one run on four hits and striking out 10 in seven and two-thirds innings. Julia Callicutt tossed the final one and one-third, surrendering one unearned run on two hits. Katie Baker took the ball in game two, allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out six.
Game One: Gardner-Webb 2, Campbell 1 (10 innings)
The two teams picked up where they left off on Saturday with two outs in the bottom of the first, progressing through the fifth inning in under an hour, with Campbell opening the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to take a 1-0 lead. Gibbons answered for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings when she lifted a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left to even the tally at 1-1.
Gardner-Webb nearly walked off with the victory in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs on an infield single by Meenaghan, before Callicutt entered in relief and forced a groundout to third to end the inning. Childers worked out of a jam in the 10th, stranding a runner on third with one out to keep the score knotted at 1-1.
The Runnin' Bulldog offense responded in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with no outs for Meenaghan following a four-pitch walk by Champion. Meenaghan came through in the clutch moments later, ripping a walk-off single back through the middle to score Breanna Blakley (Huntersville, N.C.) and give Gardner-Webb the 2-1 win.
Game Two: Campbell 6, Gardner-Webb 2
Campbell got on the board first in game two, plating one run in the second and one in the third to take an early 2-0 lead when Raven Lee singled to left and Klingler scored on an ensuing error.
The Camels would push the advantage to 6-0 with three in the fourth and one in the sixth, as Klingler launched a 3-0 pitch over the wall in left in the sixth.
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered with one in the sixth and another in the seventh, cutting the lead to 6-2 on an RBI single by Champion and a run-scoring triple by Meenaghan. Baker would rebound with back-to-back outs in the seventh following the triple, shutting the door and closing out the victory to earn the split for the Camels.
Gardner-Webb and Campbell will finish the three-game series with Monday's rubber match at 3:00 pm on Varsity Field. The game will air live on the Big South Network.
| Box Score: Gardner-Webb 2, Campbell 1 (10 innings) |
| Box Score: Campbell 6, Gardner-Webb 2 |
