CLINTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb picked up wins in both ends of Saturday's Big South softball twinbill at Presbyterian, taking a 10-4 win in the opener and a 2-0 win in the finale.
GAME ONE – Gardner-Webb 10, Presbyterian 4
Gardner-Webb scored runs in each of the first three innings and put the game away with a six-run burst in the fifth inning – taking a 10-4 win over Presbyterian in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (15-34, 7-13 Big South) scored once in the top of the first, getting three consecutive walks from Kaylee Wacaster, Rachel Cumiskey and Maddi Johnson to start the game.
A fielder's choice cut Wacaster down at the plate and another forced Cumiskey out to limit the damage, but Megan Gibbons drew a bases-loaded walk to put GWU up 1-0.
Presbyterian responded with two runs in the bottom half to go in front, getting an RBI double from Megan Anderson and a wild pitch to take a 2-1 lead.
Gardner-Webb answered with two runs of its own in the top of the second. Annamarie Warley led off with an infield single, then moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt. Cumiskey drove home a run with an RBI double into left and Johnson followed with an RBI single to give GWU a 3-2 advantage.
Megan Champion singled to lead off the third inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored easily for a 4-2 lead when Callie Thornton uncorked a triple into right center.
The lid came off for Gardner-Webb in the fifth, with the Runnin' Bulldogs rapping out six hits for their six runs.
Gibbons led off with a single and was followed by a bunt single from Thornton. A sacrifice bunt pushed both runners into scoring position and Madi Lewis came through with a two-run single into right.
A walk by Wacaster kept the rally going and she moved up a base, along with Lewis, on a wild pitch. Johnson followed with a two-run single up the middle and, after Cumiskey coaxed a walk, Gardner-Webb went up 9-2 when she scored on a wild pitch.
Champion pushed the run total into double figures for Gardner-Webb, belting an RBI double into right center for a 10-2 edge.
Presbyterian scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to keep the game going, but would get no closer.
Gardner-Webb had 14 hits in the game, with six different batters collecting two hits each. Johnson (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Alia Booth (2-for-5), Champion (2-for-5, RBI), Gibbons (2-for-3, RBI), Thornton (2-for-4, RBI) and Warley (2-for-3) all had big days at the plate in the rout.
Starter Summer Darnell had all the support she needed in the circle, hurling 7.0 innings and working around five hits and four runs allowed. She struck out four batters.
Presbyterian's Anderson led the way offensively, going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI in the loss.
GAME TWO – Gardner-Webb 2, Presbyterian 0
Gardner-Webb scored two runs in the top of the fifth and held on for a 2-0 win to clinch the series over Presbyterian Saturday afternoon in Big South softball action.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (16-34, 8-13 Big South) got a one-out double from Callie Thornton to spark the rally in the fifth and Annamarie Warley followed quickly with a single into center.
Madi Lewis put the 'Dogs up for good with an RBI single up the middle and Kaylee Wacaster kept the rally alive by legging out a bunt single. Maddi Johnson came through in the clutch, roping a two-out, RBI single into right to bring home Warley for what would be the final margin.
Presbyterian attempted to rally, loading the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but Ashley Wark worked out of the jam with a pop up and a line drive to second base.
Gardner-Webb went down in order in the seventh and Presbyterian got a single from Madison Longanecker with one out in the bottom half, but Wark stranded her with a 4-3 double play.
Wark (8-6) worked the complete game in the circle, scattering six hits in a shutout performance. She fanned one and walked two. She was successful in keeping the Blue Hose on the ground, recording 10 ground ball outs in the win.
Five different batters had one hit for Gardner-Webb in the nightcap. Wacaster (1-for-3), Johnson (1-for-2, RBI), Thornton (1-for-3, 2B), Warley (1-for-3) and Lewis (1-for-3, RBI) collected those base knocks.
Presbyterian had six hits in the game, with Hope Rogers (2-for-3) leading the way.
Gardner-Webb will enjoy its Big South bye weekend before heading into exams and awaiting the brackets for the 2017 Big South Softball Championship.
