Bulldogs Drop Twin-Bill at Winthrop
April 02, 2014 | Softball
ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Samantha Meenaghan (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) and Megan Champion (Knightdale, N.C.) each picked up a pair of hits as Gardner-Webb dropped a Big South Conference doubleheader to Winthrop on Tuesday evening.
Winthrop (19-18, 7-7 BSC) took game one by a score of 9-1 in six innings, before holding Gardner-Webb (11-25, 1-7 BSC) to one hit in a 6-0 victory in the night cap. The Eagles scored 15 runs on 24 hits in the twin-bill, while the Runnin' Bulldogs tallied one run on six base knocks.
Meenaghan and Champion each collected two hits in the doubleheader, as Meenaghan extended her hitting streak to five games. Savannah Burns (Vale, N.C.) and Kellie Beres (Greenville, N.C.) both added a base knock of their own in game one. Champion drove in Jill Blank (Leola, Pa.) for the Runnin' Bulldogs first run of the day in the opener.
Jessica Childers (Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) took the ball in game one, striking out four and walking two in three and one-third innings of work. Alyssa Gutierrez (Wake Forest, N.C.) tossed the final two frames, surrendering three runs on four hits. Ashley Rhyne (Crouse, N.C.) got the start in game two, allowing six runs and striking out three in five and two-thirds innings.
McKenzi Corn, Alex White, and Megan Winningham led the way for Winthrop with four hits each, as Corn launched a home run and drove in six. Naomi Stevens and Mel Andrea each added three base knocks.
Sara Allen got the nod in game one, allowing one run on five hits and striking out six. Sutton Watson tossed a one-hitter in game two, walking one and striking out eight in seven shutout innings.
Game One: Winthrop 9, Gardner-Webb 1
Winthrop opened the scoring in the third, plating three runs to take a 3-0 lead on a two-run double by White. The Runnin' Bulldogs fought back in the fourth, opening the frame with singles by Beres and Champion as Beres pushed her hitting streak to six games. Allen answered shortly thereafter, stranding the bases loaded to keep Gardner-Webb off the board.
The Eagles doubled the lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the inning, plating three runs following a leadoff home run by Maddie Antone and a double from Winningham. Champion and the Runnin' Bulldogs would cut into the lead with a two-out RBI single in the fifth, plating Blank after Blank walked and Meenaghan reached on an infield single.
Allen quelled the rally moments later, stranding runners on second and third to keep the margin at 6-1. Winthrop then added three runs in the sixth, closing out the victory with a bases-loaded walk.
Game Two: Winthrop 6, Gardner-Webb 0
The Eagles got on the board early, pushing across three runs in the second to take a 3-0 lead on a single by Stevens. Winthrop would add three more in the sixth, equaling the final margin of 6-0 on a three-run shot by Corn as Watson retired 20 of the 24 batters she faced to earn the victory.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Saturday when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Longwood in a Big South doubleheader at 1:00 pm on Varsity Field.
| Box Score: Winthrop 9, Gardner-Webb 1 |
| Box Score: Winthrop 6, Gardner-Webb 0 |
