Early Push Lifts Presbyterian Over Gardner-Webb, 4-1
April 17, 2014 | Softball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. --- Samantha Meenaghan (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) extended her hitting streak to 13 games with a 2-for-3 effort, and Ashley Rhyne (Crouse, N.C.) launched her first career home run for Gardner-Webb on Wednesday evening, as Presbyterian plated four runs in the first two innings en route to a 4-1 win in Big South Conference play at Varsity Field.
Presbyterian (22-20, 7-9 BSC) scored four runs on just five hits in the contest, while holding Gardner-Webb (14-30, 4-12 BSC) to one run on three base knocks.
Meenaghan collected two of the Runnin' Bulldogs' three hits, extending her hitting streak to 13 games with her 24th multi-hit effort of the season. Rhyne picked up the other base knock, launching her first career home run to plate the Runnin' Bulldogs first run of the day.
Jessica Childers (Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) got the nod for Gardner-Webb, surrendering four hits and striking out two through one and two-thirds innings. Rhyne recorded the final out of the second and tossed the final five frames for the Runnin' Bulldogs, keeping the Blue Hose off the board while allowing just one hit and striking out seven.
Hope Rogers paced the Blue Hose with a 3-for-3 day, driving in all four runs, as Jill McLean scored two runs. Kenlsey Loudermelk went the distance for Presbyterian, allowing one run on three hits and striking out seven to pick up the win.
Presbyterian got on the board early, plating two in the first on a two-run single by Rogers to take a 2-0 lead. The Blue Hose doubled the advantage to 4-0 in the second following a Rogers two-bagger to left center that scored McLean and Jordan Ashley.
The Runnin' Bulldogs fought back in the home half, trimming the margin to 4-1 when Rhyne launched a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left for her first career long ball. Loudermelk quickly settled down after that, retiring 18 of the final 20 batters she faced to seal the victory.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Friday when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Charleston Southern in a Big South doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm at Varsity Field.
| Box Score: Presbyterian 4, Gardner-Webb 1 |
