Box score (Game 1) | Box score (Game 2) | GWUphotos.com
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Summer Darnell threw a complete-game one-hitter in the first game of the doubleheader, but Julia DeMartino threw a no-hitter as Liberty defeated the Gardner-Webb softball team 2-1 in the first game, and the Flames completed the sweep with a 4-1 victory in the nightcap.
With the victories, Liberty improves to 29-26 overall and 15-8 in Big South play, while Gardner-Webb falls to 18-31 and 4-16 in the conference.
Allie Barrick led the way for the Runnin' Bulldogs collecting two hits in four plate appearances, while Megan Gibbons smacked her fourth round-tripper of the season.
Gardner-Webb got great pitching from Darnell in game one and Thompson in game two, as the pitching duo held Liberty to a combined batting average of .190 and just one extra-base hit.
DiMartino and Chase Cassady were equally as good for the Flames, allowing just one run and five hits from the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Game 1- Gardner-Webb 0, Liberty 1
The first game of the day was a battle of the pitchers, as Darnell and DeMartino combined to allow just one hit over 13 innings. Martino tossed her second no-hitter of the season, striking out nine, while Darnell threw one of the best game of her career, allowing just the one hit over six innings.
Callie Thornton broke up the perfect game by Martino, drawing a two-out walk in the third inning.
Kassidy McCoy tallied the lone base knock for either team in the second inning, smacking an RBI two-out single to drive in Deidra See.
Game 2- Gardner-Webb 1, Liberty 4
The Runnin' Bulldogs had much more success, scoring a run on five hits, while the Flames scored four runs on seven hits.
Neither side had a hit in the first inning, but GWU had a great opportunity to take the lead in the second. Barrick hit a one-out single down the right field line, but was thrown out at second base on a fantastic throw by See. Champion was the next to bat and she tripled to right center, but the Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to plate a run, as Thornton struck out to end the inning.
Liberty carried the momentum into the home-half of the second and took a 1-0 lead on McCoy's RBI single.
Gibbons tied the game with a solo home-run in the top of the fourth, as GWU struck for a run on two hits.
The Flames took the lead for good with a run in the fifth and added another run in the seventh. Cassady came on for the Flames in the fourth and did not allow a hit in the final 3.2 innings, as LU completed the sweet with a 4-1 win.
The two sides will play the final game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
