BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- A first inning grand-slam propelled Murray State( 5-2) to a 16-0 defeat of the Gardner-Webb softball team (1-5), and in the second game of the day, Scarlett Harris blasted her third home run of the season, but the Runnin' Bulldogs fell 10-6 to Nicholls State.
Game 1- GWU 0, Murray State 16-0
In the first of two games on Saturday, Kellie Beres and Summer Darnell each tallied base knocks for the Runnin' Bulldogs, but CheyAnne Gaskey tossed four solid innings for the Racers, limiting GWU to just one hit, while striking out five.
The Racers launched a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning,and added runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings to go on for the 16-0 victory.
Game 2- GWU 6, Nicholls State 10
Ashley Wark got the start in game two, but was touched up for six runs in the first inning, and was replaced by Summer Darnell, who had a solid bounce back game for GWU, tossing five strong innings, allowing just five hits.
Nicholls State jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but in the bottom of first inning, Megan Gibbons and Rachel Cumiskey each reached base, and was followed by Harris, who blasted a two run home run over the right field fence, as the Runnin' Bulldogs would trail 6-2 after the first inning.
The Colonels struck for two more runs in the top of the third, on a solo shot by Laura Neil, and later in the inning, on an unearned run by Brooke Morris.
Darnell trimmed the Nicholls State lead to 8-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking a 2-2 pitch and launching her first home run of the season over the left field fence.
Nicholls State added two additional runs in the top of the fifth, but in the bottom of the fifth inning, Cumiskey rocketed her second home run of the season over the center field wall, for GWU's fourth run of the game.
Gardner-Webb would shut down the Colonels in the top of the sixth, and Allie Barrick led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single. Jill Blank followed Barrick with a single, allowing Barrick to advance to second base, and GWU would have runners on first and second with no outs.
Beres used a sacrifice bunt, to advance Barrick and Blank to second and third respectively. Megan Gibbons drove in Blank and Barrick with a two-RBI single, and Gardner-Webb tailed 10-6 after six innings of play.
Nicholls State would hold the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, and would take the game with a 10-6 victory.
Gardner-Webb plays its final game of the Samford tomorrow afternoon, when it faces the host Samford Bulldogs at 1:30 p.m.
