WASHINGTON, D.C.- Summer Darnell tossed a complete-game allowing just one run and striking out six to lead the Gardner-Webb softball team (10-9) to a 2-1 victory over Canisius (4-14), on Friday afternoon at the George Washington University Capital Invite.
The Runnin' Bulldogs split their two games played on Friday, as they dropped the first game 5-3 to host George Washington (8-7), but rebounded in the afternoon game, picking up a 2-1 victory over the Golden Griffins.
Kaylee Wacaster led the way for the Runnin' Bulldogs, as the freshman went 4-for-6 at the plate, with two doubles and two runs, as well as a stolen base.
Gardner-Webb 5, George Washington 3
Mackenzie Thompson started the game for GWU, and the junior did not have her best pitching performance of the year, allowing four runs over four innings of work and walking six batters. Ashley Wark entered in relief of Thompson and tossed two innings, allowing just one run.
Paige Kovalsky started the game for the Colonials but last just 1/3 of an inning, walking four batters and allowing two runs. Sarah Costlow entered in relief of Kovalsky and tossed 6.2 innings of work, allowing just three hits for her fifth win of the season.
Gardner-Webb loaded the bases with just one out in the top of the first and Devn Terry was patient at the plate in her first at-bat of the year, drawing a walk to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Scarlett Harris followed with another walk, but GW came back in the bottom of the inning and smoked an RBI-double to center field to cut the GWU lead to one after one inning of play.
The Colonials tied the game at one, as Megan Linn reached base on an error by Cumiskey, which scored Ashley Schnarrs to tie the game at two.
Gardner-Webb had a runner on second with no outs, as Wacaster doubled to lead off the fourth, but the Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to drive the runner in, as the game remained tied at two.
George Washington added two runs in the bottom of the inning, as Schnarrs walked to begin the inning, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Linn scored the runner from second on an RBI-double to center field and advanced to third on the throw home and Monica Macchiarulo followed with a sacrifice fly to put GWU up 4-2.
The Colonials added a run in the sixth and went into the seventh holding a 5-1 lead. Wacaster once again led off the inning with a double and advanced to third, as Champion managed to reach base on an error by GW. Callie Thornton grounded out for the first out of the inning and Jill Blank walked to load the bases.
Gibbons came up to bat with the bases loaded and hit into a fielders choice for the second out of the inning, but Wacaster on the play to cut the defecit to 5-2. Cumsikey was the next to bat, but Costlow got the sophomore to pop up for the final out of the game and send George Washington to the 5-2 victory.
Gardner-Webb 2, Canisius 1
Megan Gibbons hit a ground ball to the third baseman which was misplayed, giving GWU a runner on first. Gibbons advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, and Gomes followed with a single to center field but the Golden Griffins threw a bullet to the plate and Gibbons was tagged out, as the score remained tied at zero after the first inning.
Lindsay Silfer launched a solo shot in the fourth, but Gardner-Webb came back in the home half of the inning and took the lead. Champion roped a triple to right center, scoring Wacaster who singled to lead off the inning, and two batters later, Champion scored when Thornton was caught in a rundown.
The Golden Griffins had their best chance to tie the game in the fifth, as Samantha Sharkey singled to begin the inning and stole second. Alexis Roman followed with a single to put two runners on base, but Darnell got Jessica Berzins to ground out to Harris for the first out of the inning. Sharkey and Roman moved up 60 feet on the ground out by Berzins, but Darnell sent down the final two batters of the inning, as GWU continued to hold the 2-1 lead.
Darnell allowed just two hits over the final two innings, and stranded two base runners to send Gardner-Webb to the 2-1 victory,
Gardner-Webb returns to tomorrow for a single game, when it faces George Washington at 3:00 p.m.
