BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Gardner-Webb fell to 6-4 overall on Friday night after a pair of losses in the GWU Tournament Sponsored by Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott. The Runnin' Bulldogs fell in eight linings to Bowling Green, 5-4, before losing 17-1 to ETSU in the nightcap. 

Game One: Gardner-Webb 4, Bowling Green 5

A three-hour game that went eight innings ended in favor of the Bowling Green Falcons, 5-4.

It was a pitcher's duel between Gardner-Webb's Brooke Perry and Bowling Green's Meredith Miller with the two hurlers combining to surrender just three hits and no runs over the first seven innings.

Bowling Green drew a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth after beginning the inning with a runner on second via the international tiebreaker rule. Perry walked two of the first three batters she faced and a wild pitch allowed BGSU to take a 1-0 lead.

A third walk loaded the bases and Sarah Gonzlaez hit a grand slam to give the Falcons a 5-0 lead. Perry got out of the inning via an infield pop out, and Gardner-Webb would get a chance to pull off the extra innings comeback.

Things started off well for the Runnin' Bulldogs as Weslyn Almond reached base after being hit by a pitch. Abbey Goodrum pinch ran for Lauren Huffman, who began the inning in scoring position, and the 'Dogs were in business with two on and nobody out.

After a wild pitch, Andria Booth's double through the left side of the infield plated both runners to cut Bowling Green's lead to three runs, 5-2.

Booth would score from second on a throwing error by the Falcons defense, during which Annamarie Warley advanced to second after legging out an infield hit.

A wild pitch and error allowed Warley to score, making it just a one-run game with one outs, but unfortunately for  the Runnin' Bulldogs, Bowling Green's Miller would regroup and strike out three consecutive batters to secure the win.

Gardner-Webb dropped to 6-3 overall, while Bowling Green improved to 2-3 after winning their first game of the day against Saint Francis.

Perry (4-2) pitched all eight innings in the loss and gave five runs (four earned). Miller (4-2) also threw a complete game and allowed four runs (two earned).

At the plate, Booth was the lone Runnin' Bulldog to have a multi-hit game. The senior went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Four Falcons – Sammy Dees, Kali Holcomb, Sarah Gonzalez and Nikki Sorgi – had hits.

Game Two: Gardner-Webb 1, ETSU 17 (5 innings)

ETSU used four runs in each of the first two innings to run-rule Gardner-Webb, 17-1, in the nightcap of the tournament.

An RBI single followed by a three-run shot of the bat of Nikki Grupp gave the Bucs a 4-0 lead after just four batters.

Gardner-Webb went down in order in the bottom of the first and three errors allowed four Bucs to cross the plate in the top of the second, giving ETSU an 8-0 advantage.

The Runnin' Bulldogs loaded the bases in the second as Jenna Wacaster recorded Gardner-Webb's first hit, a single up the middle and Owen and Lily Pressley both drew walks. With the bases loaded and two outs, ETSU's Kelly Schmidt, who moved to 4-0 on the year, retired Goodrum to get out of the inning.

The Bucs added three runs in the third with two coming off RBI doubles. In the fourth, ETSU scored five runs to push its lead to 16-0 and added one run in the top of the fifth.

Pressley led off the bottom of the fifth and struck out, but a dropped third strike and a high throw by the catcher allowed Pressley to make it to third base and get into scoring position. Booth batted in Pressley and legged out an infield single as GWU got on the board.

In the end, ETSU would improve to 7-2-2 with a 17-1 win, while GWU dropped to 6-4 overall.

Laken Myers (2-1) took the loss. Myers threw 1.2 innings and gave up six runs (five earned). Schmidt (4-0) earned the win. She threw a complete game and allowed just one unearned run.

Booth, Kaylee Wacaster and J. Wacaster accounted for Gardner-Webb's three hits.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to action on day two of the GWU Tournament Sponsored by Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott with two games on Saturday, Febraury 24. The 'Dogs will battle Bowling Green at noon and Saint Francis at 2 p.m.