BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Laken Myers pitched a shutout in game one, while Sam Harrell allowed just one run in game two, as the Gardner-Webb softball team improved to 27-20 with a pair of victories over the South Carolina State Bulldogs.

Game One: Gardner-Webb 8, South Carolina State 0 (5 innings)

In game one, the Runnin' Bulldogs (26-20) gave Myers a five-run lead to work with after just two innings of play.

In the opening inning, Andria Booth drew a leadoff walk and after stealing second base, scored when Katie Prebble singled through the left side.

Prebble then proceeded to steal second and moved to third on a single by Kaylee Wacaster. Wacaster stole the Runnin' Bulldogs third base of the game, giving the 'Dogs two on and nobody out.

A fielder's choice plated Prebble, while an RBI groundout scored Wacaster.

After one inning, Gardner-Webb held a 3-0 lead.

The Runnin' Bulldogs extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second.

Two walks, followed by a single by a Katie Stettler, loaded the bases for Prebble.

Prebble's sacrifice fly plated Lily Pressley, and Booth scored on a wild pitch, giving Gardner-Webb a five-run lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Booth led off with a single and stole second. She moved 60 feet when Stettler singled, and both players came home when K. Wacaster belted a two-RBI triple, her fourth three-base hit of the year.

After four innings, Gardner-Webb led, 7-0.

Myers struck out the side in the top of the fifth, and the 'Dogs ended the contest in the bottom of the inning.

Kaylin Schuda was hit by a pitch to begin the frame, and Rachel Cumiskey doubled, putting two runners in scoring position.

After a pair of lineouts, Allie Barrick recorded her first hit of 2018, an RBI single down the left field line.

Barrick's base hit scored Schuda and gave Gardner-Webb the 8-0 win in five innings.

In five innings of work, Myers (5-5) surrendered just two hits and struck out five. For SCSU, Jada Lake threw just one inning, but took the loss. Lake allowed five earned runs on two hits and four walks.

Prebble led the Runnin' Bulldogs at the plate, going 2-for-2 with four RBIs.

Game Two: Gardner-Webb 9, South Carolina State 1 (6 innings)

In the final game of the doubleheader, South Carolina State struck first, scoring a run on an RBI double in the top of the second.

Although the Bulldogs (1-26) briefly held a 1-0 lead, Gardner-Webb (27-20) scored nine unanswered runs over the final four innings.

In the bottom of the second, the Runnin' Bulldogs used back-to-back-to-back doubles to score two runs. 

Jenna Wacaster began the inning with a two-base hit and scored when Annamarie Warley hit a double to center field.

Warley scored when Meredith Ferguson doubled, giving the 'Dogs a 2-1 lead.

Gardner-Webb scored its third and final run of the inning when Stettler doubled with two outs, batting in Ferguson. After two complete innings, the Runnin' Bulldogs held a 3-1 lead.

Gardner-Webb failed to score over the next two innings, before doubling its run total in the bottom of the fifth.

Maddi Johnson drew a one-out walk and moved to second thanks to a wild pitch. Johnson scored when J. Wacaster recorded her second RBI of the game.

With J. Wacaster on first, Ferguson hit her first career home run, a two-run shot to left field, which pushed the Runnin' Bulldogs' advantage to five runs, 6-1.

In the sixth, Gardner-Webb scored three runs, using four hits and a walk to end the game.

Stettler drew a leadoff walk, and Prebble singled, giving the 'Dogs two runners on and nobody out.

The next three batters – K. Wacaster, Johnson and J. Wacaster – all recorded RBI singles.

J. Wacaster's single to center field scored her sister and ended the game in favor of Gardner-Webb, 9-1.

Harrell (4-4) pitched five innings and gave up just one earned run. Lewis took the loss for South Carolina State, allowing nine earned runs and 15 hits.

At the plate, J. Wacaster (3-for-4, 2 RBIs), Stettler (2-for-3, RBI), Prebble (2-for-4), Johnson (2-for-3, RBI) and Ferguson (2-for-3, 3 RBIs) all recorded two hits.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to action this weekend, when they travel to face the Radford Highlanders. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 21, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. The series will conclude with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.