GREENVILLE, S.C.- The Gardner-Webb softball team (10-13) dropped both games of a doubleheader to Furman (15-14), in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
The Paladins led 1-0 after the second inning, but exploded for 10 runs en route to a 16-1 victory (5 inn) to begin the day. In game two, Furman got a complete-game six hit performance from Emily Demonte to complete the sweep, with a 3-1 victory.
Rachel Cumiskey led the way offensively with a .600 batting averaging, collecting three hits and two doubles on the day, and Jill Blank also had a productive day going 3-for-6 on the afternoon with three runs. Megan Gibbons smashed her second home run of the season in the first game of the season, her second blast in the last three games.
Game 1- Gardner-Webb 1, Furman 16- 5 innings
Lindsay Bert tossed a complete-game for the Paladins, allowing just two hits and adding four strikeouts for her seventh win of the season.
Furman jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Emma Ogburn. The score remained the same until the third inning, when the Paladins erupted for 10 runs and seven hits. Elise Smith belted a grand slam and Bert followed with a three-run blast later in the inning. Furman added five runs in the fourth, and took game one of the doubleheader 16-1.
Game 2- Gardner-Webb 1, Furman 3
Gardner-Webb countered with Devyn Terry in the second game of the afternoon, and the freshman allowed three runs and struck out two in six innings of work. Furman sent Emily Demonte to the mound, and the Paladin pitcher tossed a complete-game, allowing six hits and struck out three to earn her sixth win of the season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Blank hit a one-out single and Cumiskey followed with a double to left field to give GWU a runner on second and third. Amanda Gomes was the next to bat for GWU and grounded out to the first baseman, but scored Blank on the play to put Gardner-Webb up 1-0.
The first two batters for Furman reached base in the bottom of the second, before Terry got Brittany Houston to ground out for the first out of the inning. Taylor Collins was the next to bat for the home side and gave Furman a 2-1 lead with a two-RBI triple to center field.
Blank singled with two outs in the third and Cumiskey followed with a walk, but Gomes was unable to do anything with the runner in scoring position, as she flew out to center field to end the inning.
Gardner-Webb had its leadoff hitter reach base to begin the fifth and Callie Thornton advanced Megan Champion into scoring position, but Bert bunkered down and sent down the next two batters for GWU to end the threat.
Furman added a run in the fifth on a solo blast by Hannah Reynolds and in the sixth, Gardner-Webb had its best opportunity to tie the game. Cumiskey led off the inning with a double, and a batter later, Scarlett Harris drew a walk. However, Gibbons and Emma Megal each flew out to center field to end the inning.
Blank collected her third hit of the day in the seventh inning, but Furman completed the sweep of the mid-week doubleheader with a 3-1 victory.
Gardner-Webb returns to the diamond Saturday, when it travels to Johnson City, Tennessee for a doubleheader. Saturday's action is set to get underway at 1:00 p.m.
