BUIES CREEK, N.C.- Savannah Burns hit a two-run home run to triml the lead to 4-2, but Liberty used a three-run fourth inning and got a complete-game pitching performance from Chandler Ball to defeat the Gardner-Webb softball team 7-2 on Friday morning at the Big South Tournament.
With the loss, Gardner-Webb's season comes to an end. The Runnin' Bulldogs finish the season with a 15-35 overall record and were 6-18 in Big South Conference Play.
Liberty now advances to face the loser of the game between No. 2 Coastal Carolina and No. 6 Presbyterian, Friday evening at 9:30 p.m.
Amanda Gomes led the way offensively for the Dogs, collecting two hits and scoring a run, while Megan Champion also added a run in the game.
Ball was great on the mound for the Flames, limiting GWU to just four hits for the game, while striking out five, to earn her 20th victory of the season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs looked as if they would get off to a quick lead in the first, as Kellie Beres reached base on an error and advanced all the way to third with one out, but Ball got Cumiskey to ground into a fielders choice, and Beres got caught in a run-down and was tagged out by Alexia Taylor.
Liberty came right back in the bottom of the first, using the momentum from escaping the jam without surrendering a run, as the Flames loaded the bases and Melissa Loveridge drew a walk to score the first run of the game.
The Flames increased their lead in the fourth with three additional runs. Liberty loaded the bases once again with just one out, and Taylor came up huge singling home two runs. Tori Zavodny followed Taylor with a solo home run and Liberty would lead 4-0 after three innings.
Burns launched a two-run shot, her second of the season, in the fifth to cut the deficit in half, 4-2, but Liberty added two more runs in the fifth and would go on for the 7-2 victory.
