WASHINGTON, D.C.- Akron (12-10) used a three-run fifth inning to defeat the Gardner-Webb softball team (10-11), 9-2, on Sunday morning at the George Washington University Capital Invite.
Erin Seiler was excellent on the mound for the Zips, allowing just two hits in six innings of work and struck out four to earn her 10th win of the season. Mackenzie Thompson went the distance for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing four earned runs while struck out four.
Gardner-Webb had trouble mounting an offensive attack, as it totaled just four hits on the afternoon, but held a 1-0 lead heading in to the fourth inning, before the Zips tied the game on a passed ball.
Amanda Gomes, Scarlett Harris, Megan Champion, and Callie Thornton each recorded a hit for GWU in the game, while Harris and Champion drove in their 16th and fifth RBI of the season respectively.
Alyssa Nicholas smacked a one-out single to center field and a batter later, advanced to second base on a passed ball, but Thornton ended the threat with a strikeout for the final out of the inning.
Gardner-Webb came right back in the bottom of the inning and took the lead. The first two batters of the inning recorded an out, but Rachel Cumiskey reached base on an error and Gomes followed up with a single. Harris drilled a single up the middle, which scored Cumiskey, as GWU led 1-0 after the first inning.
Akron could not do anything with a leadoff single in the second and Thompson sent down the Zips 1-2-3 in the third, as GWU continued to hold the lead heading into the fourth inning.
Carley Childress led off the fourth inning with a single and managed to move to third on a sacrifice bunt to Thornton. The Zips tied the game at one, as Childress scampered home on a passed ball.
Seiler sent down the Runnin' Bulldogs in order, and in the top of the fifth, the Zips had runners on second and third with one out. Savannah Fruin reached base on a fielders choice and Anna Tarpley scored the run, as GWU was called for obstruction.
Akron added two additional runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to take a 5-1 lead heading into the final inning.
Fruin scored an unearned run for the Zips in the seventh and Tarpley scored three on a two-RBI triple. Gardner-Webb did not go down quietly, as Champion smashed a solo-shot in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as GWU fell 9-2.
Gardner-Webb returns to action Tuesday, when it travels to Greeneville, S.C. to face the Furman Paladins for a doubleheader. Tuesday's game is set for 4:00 p.m.
