LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Gardner-Webb softball team dropped a doubleheader to the Liberty Flames, falling 5-0 in game one and 8-0 in the final contest of the series.
Game One: Liberty 5, Gardner-Webb 0
Game one of the doubleheader opened with Liberty earning a 5-0 victory against the Runnin' Bulldogs, giving the Flames the series win.
In the opening inning, despite back-to-back singles by
Katie Stettler and
Katie Prebble, Gardner-Webb (20-16, 4-4 Big South Conference) was unable to plate either runner.
In the bottom of the first, the Flames (27-8, 8-0 BSC) used three consecutive singles to load the bases, before a walk sent a runner home, giving LU a 1-0 lead.
A sacrifice fly plated the Flames second run of the inning, and Gardner-Webb faced a 2-0 deficit after one complete inning.
The Runnin' Bulldogs went down in order in the top of the second, but a fielding error and wild pitch gave the 'Dogs two runners on with two outs. With two runners on and one in scoring position, a fly out ended the inning.
Sam Harrell retired the side in the bottom of the third and allowed just a walk in the following inning, keeping Gardner-Webb within a pair of runs.
In the top of the fifth,
Andria Booth tripled with two outs, but was left stranded as the 'Dogs were unable to put a run on the scoreboard.
Liberty scored three runs in the bottom of fifth to extend its advantage to 5-0. A two-RBI double followed by an RBI base knock put the Runnin' Bulldogs behind by five.
Gardner-Webb managed a one-out single by Stettler in the top of the sixth but a double play ended the inning.
Although the 'Dogs held Liberty scoreless in the bottom of the inning, they went down in order in the top of the seventh and fell by a 5-0 score.
Harrell (4-3) took the loss, pitching four innings. She gave up four earned runs and six hits, while striking out three.
Laken Myers pitched two innings in relief and gave up one earned run and two hits. Myers struck out two and gave up no walks.
At the plate, Booth, Prebble, Stettler and
Kaylee Wacaster recorded hits.
Game Two: Liberty 8, Gardner-Webb 5 (5 innings)
Game two was not kind to the Runnin' Bulldogs as the Flames run-ruled the visitors from Boiling Springs in five innings.
Liberty managed seven runs in the first two innings, including six runs on six hits and an error by the GWU defense in the bottom of the second.
Weslyn Almond was the first base runner for the Runnin' Bulldogs. The freshman outfielder was hit by a pitch with two outs in the top of the third but made it no further than first base as a strikeout ended the inning.
Trailing 7-0, Settler and Prebble opened the inning by each recording a base hit – Gardner-Webb's first hits of the game – but both runners were stranded on base to end the inning.
Three straight outs ended the contest after the top half of the inning with Liberty earning the 8-0 victory.
Ashley Wark (12-10) took the loss, throwing one inning and surrendering five earned runs.
Madi Lewis and Myers both saw time in relief of Wark.
With the loss in game two, Gardner-Webb drops to 20-17 and 4-5 conference play. Liberty improves to 28-8 and a perfect 9-0 in BSC action.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to action next Saturday, April 7, against Charleston Southern. Game one will begin at 2 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN3.
