BOILING SPRINGS – Furman took both ends of Tuesday's non-conference doubleheader, holding on for a 3-2 win in the opener and winning by a 20-5 score in the nightcap.
GAME ONE – Furman 3, Gardner-Webb 2
Solo home runs from Kaylee Wacaster and Megan Gibbons weren't quite enough for Gardner-Webb in the opener, as Furman held on for a 3-2 win at Brinkley Softball Stadium.
The Paladins (27-18) took the lead in the top of the second, getting an RBI triple from Casey Bigham – which followed a leadoff double from Elise Smith. The lead grew to 3-0 in the top of the third, as Furman walked the bases loaded and got an RBI base on balls that allowed Smith to reach and drive home a run.
Bigham struck again, flying out deep to right for a sacrifice fly and the 3-0 lead.
Wacaster did her part in the fourth, leading off the bottom half of the inning by sizzling a home run to dead center. Alia Booth had a two-out single in the inning, just over the shortstop's head, but was stranded.
The Runnin' Bulldogs were down to the final out in the seventh, when Gibbons stepped in and belted a home run to left. Furman starter Lindsey Bert coaxed a ground ball, however, ending the game.
Gardner-Webb had three hits in the contest, with Wacaster and Gibbons' long balls the bright spots.
Summer Darnell (2-11) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in 3.0 innings of work. Mackenzie Thompson closed the game with 4.0 scoreless frames in the circle.
Bert (16-9) picked up the win, going the distance and allowing just two runs on three hits. She fanned eight and did not issue a walk. She also went 1-for-3 at the plate.
Courtney Jacobs (2-for-4) led Furman's eight-hit attack at the dish, with Bigham and Smith also having a big impact on the game.
GAME TWO – Furman 20, Gardner-Webb 5
Furman scored six runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to break things open, then pushed eight runs across in the top of the seventh to take a 20-5 win over Gardner-Webb in Tuesday's nightcap.
Down 12-0 after the top of the sixth, Gardner-Webb (14-33) scored five runs in the bottom half to keep the game alive.
Rachel Cumiskey led off the frame with an infield single and moved to second on another hit by Callie Thornton. Alia Booth came through with Gardner-Webb's first RBI of the game, driving a pitch into right field to plate Cumiskey. Thornton came home on an error in the outfield to trim the lead to 12-2.
Megan Gibbons had a big hit in the inning, ripping a two-run double that made the score 12-4. An error allowed Maddie Johnson to reach base and Gibbons scored one batter later on a wild pitch for a 12-5 score.
The Paladins had more offense in store, however, collecting six hits and taking advantage of two errors to push across eight runs in the top of the seventh. GWU would get a double from Booth and a single from Megan Champion in the bottom of the seventh, but both were stranded to end the game.
Furman had 18 hits in the win, getting three from Casey Bigham (3-for-4) and Tess Griswold (3-for-5). Brittany Houston (2-for-2), Andrea Abbatiello (2-for-5) and AnnaRose Borrelli (2-for-3) each had multiple hits. The Paladins had five doubles and one triple in the game.
Emily Demonte (9-9) picked up the win, hurling 6.2 shutout innings with six hits allowed.
Gardner-Webb had 10 hits in the game, with Kaylee Wacaster (2-for-4, 2B) and Booth (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) leading the way. Cumiskey (1-for-4), Thornton (1-for-4), Champion (1-for-3), Gibbons (1-for-4), Annamarie Warley (1-for-2) and Madi Lewis (1-for-3) also had base knocks.
Ashley Wark (7-6) took the loss in the circle, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits in 4.0 innings of work.
Gardner-Webb will get back into Big South Conference play on Saturday, traveling to face Presbyterian in a doubleheader at 1:00 pm. The two teams will wrap up the regular season on Sunday at 1:00 pm.
