FARMVILLE, Va.- The Gardner-Webb softball team outhit Longwood 10-8 on Sunday afternoon, but the Runnin' Bulldogs stranded 11 runners in the 9-2 loss to the Lancers in the final game of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.
With the victory, Longwood completes the three-game sweep of GWU and improves its overall record to 20-21 and 14-4 in Big South Play, while Gardner-Webb drops to 11-27 and 3-14 in conference action.
Scarlett Harris, Amanda Gomes, Jill Blank, and Taylar Pridgen each collected two hits on the afternoon, but the Runnin' Bulldogs struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, going 1-10 for the game.
Justina Augustine concluded her impressive three-game series for the Lancers collecting three hits, scoring three runs and drove in two RBI, while her teammate Megan Baltzell hit a home run, drove in four RBI and also drew two walks.
It was Gardner-Webb that jumped out to the quick lead in the first inning. Megan Gibbons drew a one out walk and advanced to second on a single by Scarlett Harris. With two runners on base, Gomes singled to center field to drive in Gibbons for the first run of the game.
Longwood had its first two batters reach base in the first on a single by Augustine and a walk from Emily Murphy. Baltzell drove in both runners on a double to left field and later in the inning, Chelsea Sciacca drove in the third run on the inning with a sacrifice fly and Longwood would hold a 3-1 advantage after the first inning.
Pridgen and Beres hit back-to-back one out singles in the second, but the inning would come to an abrupt end, as Gibbons grounded into a double play.
Augustine drove in two additional runs in the second on a double down the right field line, and three batters later, Sciacca grounded into a fielders choice, but Augustine scored on the play to give Longwood a 6-1 lead, heading into the third inning.
Baltzell scored the Lancers' seventh run of the game on a sacrifice bunt by Jamie Barbour in the fourth inning, but Gardner-Webb got a run in the sixth when Gibbons hit a single to right field, which drove in Beres to cut the defeat to five.
Baltzell capped the weekend off with a two-run home run in the sixth and Longwood would complete the three-game sweep of the Runnin' Bulldogs with the 9-2 victory.
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Wednesday when it faces UNC Greensboro in a non-conference doubleheader at 2:00 p.m.
