Box score (Game 1) | Box score (Game 2) | GWUphotos.com
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Rachel Cumiskey went 4-for-5 with a run and a double and Mackenzie Thompson tossed a complete-game one-hit shutout to lead the Gardner-Webb softball team (20-32, 6-17 BSC) to a doubleheader sweep of Winthrop (14-40, 4-19 BSC) on Friday evening at the Brinkley Softball Stadium.
The Runnin' Bulldogs snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory to start the day, and completed the sweep wining 7-6 in game two.
Thompson pitched extremely well for GWU in the first game of the day, allowing just one-hit and struck out two to earn her 10th win of the season. Summer Darnell got the start in the nightcap and went six innings, allowing five earned runs and struck out three, while Ashley Wark came on and tossed a scoreless seventh inning to earn her second save of the year.
Scarlett Harris and Megan Gibbons each had productive doubleheaders, driving in two runs. Harris went 1-for-4 with an opposite field home run, her eighth of the year, while Megan Gibbons rocketed her fifth home run of the season, and the second in the last four games.
Jill Blank and Allie Barrick each had multi-hit performances on the afternoon, as Blank went 3-for-6 with a triple and an RBI, while Barrick went 2-for-5.
Game 1- GWU 1, Winthrop 0
Gardner-Webb had its leadoff batter each base in the first three innings, but would not be able to take advantage of the baserunners.
Thompson had a perfect came entering the fifth inning, but Zharne Glover singled to lead off the inning to breakup the no-hit bid.
The Runnin' Bulldogs would score the lone run of the game on a bases loaded walk in the sixth inning and hold on for the 1-0 victory.
Despite taking the loss, Kiley Majette pitched a solid game for the Eagles, allowing just four hits over six innings.
Game 2- GWU 7, Winthrop 6
After combining for just one run and five hits, the two sides got their offense clicking, combining for 13 runs and 18 hits.
The Eagles scored a run in the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second inning.
Gardner-Webb exploded for six runs on five hits in the inning to take the lead. Harris launched a solo-home run to begin the inning and Megan Champion scored the second run on an error by the Eagles. Blank tripled home Thornton and Cumiskey followed with an RBI single down the left field line. The final two runs of the inning came on a two-run bomb by Gibbons.
Winthrop added its second run in the top of the fourth, but GWU matched the run in the bottom of the inning, as Amanda Gomes scored Cumiskey on a sacrifice fly.
The Eagles cut the defecit to one run, scoring three in the top of the sixth inning, but Wark came on and tossed a scoreless inning to send GWU to the 7-6 victory.
The two sides play the final game of the series tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN3, as Mike Gleason and Nate Ross will be on the call.
