Box score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2) | GWUphotos.com
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.- Scarlett Harris launched her sixth home run of the season, but East Tennessee State used a five-run third inning to defeat the Gardner-Webb Softball Team 10-3 in the first game of a doubleheader. In the second game of the day, the Buccaneer pitchers combined to limit GWU to just three hits, as ETSU completed the sweep with a 3-0 victory in the nightcap.
With the victory, ETSU improves to 16-14 overall, while Gardner-Webb drops its fifth straight game and falls to 18-26 on the season.
Megan Gibbons and Amanda Gomes each had two hits on the afternoon to lead the Runnin' Bulldogs, and Gibbons launched her third home run of the season.
Gardner-Webb totaled three runs on six hits in the first game of the day, but struggled on the defensive end, committing four errors. In the nightcap, the Runnin' Bulldogs had a tough time mustering an offensive attack, totaling just three hits.
Game 1- Gardner-Webb 3, East Tennessee State 10
Lindsey Fadnek went 4.0 innings for ETSU, allowing three earned runs on three hits and struck out seven to earn her ninth win of the season. Tiffany Laughren came on in relief of Fadnek, and allowed just three hits over the final three earnings to earn her first save of the year.
Gardner-Webb came out of the gates on fire and took a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run shot by Harris.
Mackenzie Thompson shut down the Bucs in the bottom of the inning, but ETSU tied the game at two in the second, as Madison Boyd smacked a double, scoring Malloree Schurr and Taylor Carter.
ETSU followed up its second inning with a five-run third inning to take the lead for good. The Bucs loaded the bases and Schurr quickly cleared then, smashingg a grand slam to left field, and Madison Boyd followed Schurr with a solo-shot to complete the five-run third inning.
Gibbons added a run for GWU in the fourth with her third home run of the season, but ETSU responded with a run in the bottom of the inning and added two more runs in the sixth and would win the opening game of the day, 10-3.
Game 2- Gardner-Webb 0, East Tennessee State 3
Devyn Terry allowed three runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings as the starter for GWU in game two, and Summer Darnell was excellent in relief, not allowing a hit by ETSU in 1.1 innings of work.
Taylor Carter and Rebecca Wahrmund each tossed two innings for the Bucs and the duo allowed just one hit over the first four innings, and Madison Ogle, Sharlene Godoy, and Kelsey Smith each pitched an inning to finish off the game. Wahrmund was credited with her fourth win of the season and the save went to Smith, her fourth of the year.
All three of ETSU's runs came in the third inning of play. Both teams combined for just one hit over the first 2.5 innings, but ETSU struck for three runs on four hits in the bottom of the third. Danielle Knoetze drove in Jennine Duncan on an RBI single for the first run of the inning, and Taylor Carter followed Duncan with an RBI double. The third run for ETSU came two batters later, when Laughren reached on a fielders choice, scoring Carter.
Gardner-Webb mustered just two hits over the final four innings, as it fell 3-0 to the Buccaneers.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action this weekend, when it travels to Conway, S.C. to face the Chanticleers in a three-game series. The two sides will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. and will play a single game Sunday, also at 1:00 p.m.
