SHELBY, N.C.- Tied 1-1 heading into the seventh inning, Liberty scored two runs to defeat the Gardner-Webb softball team 3-1 in the first of two games on the day, and Alexia Taylor had five RBI in the nightcap to send the Flames to an 8-4 victory on Saturday afternoon at Crest High School.
Kellie Beres recorded four hits and had an RBI and Jill Blank drove in two runs to lead the Runnin' Bulldogs on the afternoon.
Game 1- GWU 1, Liberty 3
Summer Darnell got the start on the mound for the Dawgs and did not allow a run in over 3.1 innings, while Chandler Ball tossed a complete game seven hitter to record for sixth victory of the season for the Flames.
Darnell sent the Flames down in order to begin the game in the first inning, and Beres led off the bottom of the first with a single. Beres advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Gibbons, and Rachel Cumiskey followed Gibbons with a single to left field, as Gardner-Webb would have runners on first and third with just one out. Ball got Scarlett Harris to pop out and Amanda Gomes to ground out to the first baseman to end the inning.
Darnell recorded two straight outs to begin the second, before Madison Kotchey drew a walk, but the sophomore pitcher got Madi Clarke to pop out to end the inning.
Savannah Burns led off the home half of the second with a double and advanced to third on a fly ball to the right fielder. Blank drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single to left center, to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 1-0 lead after two innings of play.
Liberty looked as if it would tie the game at one or possibly take the lead in the fourth, as the Flames recorded three straight singles to load the bases with just one out. Wark came in to replace Darnell on the mound, and the freshman pitcher got Clarke to ground out on a fielders choice, and struck out Jamie Crisp, to hold the Flames without a run, and escape the inning still holding a 1-0 lead.
The Flames however would tie the game at one in the fifth on an RBI triple by Kelby Allen. Tori Zavodny walked to start the top of the seventh and advanced to second on a single by Megan Robinson. Allen lined out for the first out of the seventh and Mickey Loveridge reached first base on a fielders choice, but Robinson got called out at third base for the second out of the inning. Taylor came up big for the Flames with a two run double to left field, as the Flames plated two runs in the seventh to take a 3-1 advantage, heading into the last at-bats for the Dawgs.
Beres led off the home-half of the seventh with a single, but Gibbons flew out to the second baseman to record the first out of the inning. Beres advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Ball got out of the jam with two straight outs to send the Flames to a 3-1 victory.
Game 2- GWU 4, Liberty 8
Liberty continued its momentum into game two as the Flames would jump out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-RBI double by Taylor. Taylor was at it again in the top of the third, as she blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall to extend the Liberty lead to 5-0 after three innings of play.
Liberty added runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh and would take an 8-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Harris led off the home half of the seventh with a single, Gomes walked, and Burns singled to right field to load the bases for the Dawgs. Blank drew a walk to record the first run of the game for Gardner-Webb. Beres, Gibbons, and Champion had three straight singles and Gardner-Webb would trail just 8-4. With a powerful hitter in Harris due up for the Dawgs, Liberty went to the bullpen, bringing in Ball for the save situation. Ball got Harris to strike out, and Liberty would get out of the jam with the 8-4 victory.
Gardner-Webb and Liberty return to action tomorrow for the final game of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
