Stellar Trio Lifts Gardner-Webb To Doubleheader Split With Radford
April 26, 2014 | Softball
RADFORD, Va. --- Taylar Pridgen (Trinity, N.C.) tallied three hits and the game-winning RBI in game one, Samantha Meenaghan (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) added five base knocks and a two-run home run, and Jessica Childers (Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) tossed a nine-inning shutout in the opener to lift Gardner-Webb to a doubleheader split with Radford on Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference action.
Gardner-Webb (16-34, 6-16 BSC) plated three runs in the ninth inning of game one to edge Radford (21-23, 13-7 BSC), 3-0, in a classic pitcher's duel, as Radford answered with a five-run first en route to a 5-2 victory in the nightcap. The Runnin' Bulldogs plated five runs on 18 hits in the twin-bill, including a pair of extra-base hits, while Radford scored five runs on 12 hits.
Meenaghan led the way with five hits in the doubleheader, including a 3-for-4 effort in game two, while providing a pair of insurance runs in the opener with a two-run homer in the ninth. Pridgen added four base knocks with a 3-for-4 performance in game one, driving in the winning run with a ninth-inning single. Amanda Gomes (Coral Gables, Fla.), Scarlett Harris (Sherrills Ford, N.C.), and Savannah Burns (Vale, N.C.) each collected a pair of hits in the twin-bill.
Childers tossed a gem in game one, scattering five hits and striking out nine in a nine inning shutout. Alyssa Gutierrez (Wake Forest, N.C.) took the ball in game two, allowing one earned run on seven hits in six innings of work.
Game One: Gardner-Webb 3, Radford 0 (9 innings)
Both offenses were stymied for the first eight innings of a classic pitcher's duel on the national stage, as Gardner-Webb plated three runs with two outs in the ninth inning on ESPN3 to claim the opener. Pridgen led the way with three hits, as Meenaghan and Gomes each added a pair of base knocks.
The Runnin' Bulldogs broke the deadlock in the top of the ninth, plating three runs on three hits to claim a 3-0 lead. After Gomes laced a one-out double to left center and after pinch runner Breanna Blakley (Huntersville, N.C.) advanced to third on a comebacker to the pitcher, Pridgen bounced a two-out single up the middle to give Gardner-Webb a 1-0 advantage.
Meenaghan added some insurance two pitches later, launching a 0-1 over the wall in center to stretch the lead to 3-0.Radford wasted little time mounting a threat in the home half, putting runners on first and second to lead off the frame before Childers forced three straight pop ups to close out the inning and the win.
Game Two: Radford 5, Gardner-Webb 2
Radford opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on four hits and three errors to open an early 5-0 advantage on a run-scoring single by Ashleigh Harris.
The Runnin' Bulldogs fought back in the sixth, cutting the advantage to 5-1 with an RBI single from Megan Gibbons (Benson, N.C.). Gardner-Webb continued the rally in the seventh, loading the bases with one out before Meenaghan singled home Burns to trim the margin to 5-2. Radford's bullpen quickly responded, forcing an out at home before closing out the victory with a grounder to third.
Gardner-Webb and Radford will square off one more time this weekend, taking the field for the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday at 1:00 pm.
| Box Score: Gardner-Webb 3, Radford 0 |
| Box Score: Radford 5, Gardner-Webb 2 |
