DURHAM, N.C.- The Gardner-Webb softball team picked up two victories over North Carolina Central on Tuesday afternoon at Parkwood Field.
Mackenzie Thompson tossed a complete-game four hit shutout, striking out a season-high seven batters to send GWU to a 4-0 victory in game one, while the Runnin' Bulldogs outlasted NC Central 11-10 in an offensive outburst to complete the sweep of the Eagles.
Amanda Gomes led the way offensively for GWU going 4-for-7 on the afternoon with a home run, three RBI and two runs, while Scarlett Harris and Mahaila Irvin each batted .500. Harris went 4-for-8 at the plate with a run and an RBI, while Irvin was 2-for-4 with an RBI single.
Game 1- GWU 4, NC Central 0
The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped out to a quick lead lead in their first at-bats of the day. Kaylee Wacaster led off the day with a double to right center and Jill Blank followed with an RBI single to give GWU a 1-0 lead. GWU would load the bases later in the inning and plate its second run of the day, as Megan Gibbons grounded into a fielders choice which scored Rachel Cumiskey. Cumiskey reached base earlier in the inning when she was hit by a pitch.
Danyelle Noland drew a walk to give the Eagles their first base-runner of the afternoon, but Thompson bunkered down and got Jenny Tracy to ground into a double play to end the inning.
The Eagles once again had a chance to score in the bottom of the second, as they had runners on second and third with two outs in the second, but Thompson once again came through with some clutch pitching to escape the jam. The Gardner-Webb pitcher got ahead of Aleyah Evans by a 1-2 count, and escaped the threat with a ground out to Gomes.
Gardner-Webb doubled its lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning and forced NCCU to make a pitching change. Gomes, Gibbons, and Devyn Terry each hit singles to load the bases for GWU and Megan Champion made the most of her at-bat, smacking a two-RBI single to center field to put GWU up 4-0.
North Carolina Central had another chance to plate a run in the sixth, with runners on first and third with just one out, but Thompson once again escaped the jam without surrendering a run.
Markell Wylie hit a two-out double in the seventh, but Thompson recorded the final out of the game on a ground out to send GWU to the 4-0 victory.
Game 2- Gardner-Webb 11, North Carolina Central 10
After combining for just four runs and 12 hits, the two teams broke out the offense in the second game of the day, scoring a combined 21 runs on 27 hits.
Gardner-Webb led 3-2 at the end of four innings, but the two sides scored a total of 16 runs over the final three innings.
Gomes led the way for GWU collecting three hits and driving in three runs, while Champion smashed a three-run bomb in the sixth inning.
For the Eagles, Dominique Wilson went 2-for-4 with four RBI, while Jenny Tracy also had a productive day at the plate collecting two hits and driving in three runs.
Terry started the game for the Runnin' Bulldogs, tossing 4.2 innings and Ashley Wark came on in relief and earned her first save of the season.
North Carolina Central jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Casey Hargett roped a double to right field, driving in Wylie.
The score remained the same until the top of the third inning, when Gardner-Webb plated three runs on four hits to take a 3-1 lead. Callie Thorton singled to begin the inning and Wacaster drew a walk, followed by a two-RBI double for Cumiskey and an RBI single for Gomes.
North Carolina Central added its second run of the game to cut the defecit to one at the end of four innings of play.
Cumiskey led off the fifth with a walk and Gomes singled, advancing Cumiskey into scoring position. Thw two base runners moved up 60 feet on a wild pitch. Harris scored Cumiskey on an RBI single to center field, and after Gibbons struck out swining, MIrvin drove in her first RBI of the season with a single. Later in the inning, Sam Harrell scored GWU's third run of the inning on Thorton's RBI single.
NC Central answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but in the sixth inning, Gomes hit a two-run blast and Champion launched a three-run shot to complete a five-run inning for the Dogs.
The Eagles were at it again, as they responded with a five-run inning of their own and headed into the final frame trailing by just a run.
Aleyah Evans singled with one out, but was picked off for the second out of the inning, and Wark sealed the victory for GWU on Carter's line out to Harris.
Gardner-Webb returns home this weekend, when it opens Big South Play, welcoming Campbell to the Brinkley Softball Stadium for a three-games series. The two sides will play a doubleheader on Friday starting at 4:00 p.m., and a single game Saturday that is slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
