ORANGEBURG, SC – Head coach
Tom Cole's Gardner-Webb softball squad extended its winning streak to three games with a pair of 10-0 road victories at South Carolina State on Tuesday afternoon.
Game One: Gardner-Webb 10, South Carolina State 0
Laken Myers went the distance and threw a three-hit shutout while striking out 15 batters and walking only one. The sophomore threw 86 pitches and no South Carolina State base runner got further than first base.
The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped on the Bulldogs of SCSU in the first inning with three runs. A bunt by
Kaylee Wacaster scored
Andria Booth from first, and the two additional runs scored on a wild pitch and a groundout.
In the second, a wild pitch scored
Callie Thornton, while K. Wacaster legged out an infield hit for an RBI.
Gardner-Webb extended its lead to 6-0 in the top of the third when
Meredith Ferguson's sacrifice fly scored
Jenna Wacaster who reached base on a leadoff double.
In the top of the fifth, the 'Dogs would benefit from a leadoff triple from K. Wacaster, who scored on a groundout one batter later.
The Runnin' Bulldogs did not score their final three runs until the top of the seventh inning, and
Brooke Perry and
Autumn Owen batted in all three runs.
With one out, K. Wacaster singled and came home when Perry doubled. After a lineout by J. Wacaster, Owen stepped into the box and sent the first pitch she saw over the center field fence to give the 'Dogs a 10-0 lead.
Myers surrendered a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh but got three straight outs following the single to earn her third win of the year.
K. Wacaster led Gardner-Webb at the plate with a perfect 4-for-4 game. She scored three runs and batted in two runs. J. Wacaster (2-for-4, RBI) and Ferguson (2-for-3, RBI) also recorded a multi-hit game. Owen batted in three runs and went 1-for-4.
Game Two: Gardner-Webb 10, South Carolina State 0 (5 innings)
Freshman
Reah Barger earned her first career win with a five-inning shutout in game two as the Runnin' Bulldogs run-ruled South Carolina to sweep the twinbill.
Gardner-Webb scored half of its runs in the opening inning with Perry accounting for two runs via two-run home run. Perry's homer came after Booth scored on a groundout and was followed by RBIs from Barger and
Trinity Sterrett.
With a 5-0 lead entering the top of the second, Gardner-Webb would add one run to its total when K. Wacaster scored on a passed ball, and the following inning, Ferguson would bat in two runs off a double to left field.
The Runnin' Bulldogs added their final two runs in the fourth inning and were held scoreless in the top of the fifth.
Barger got two groundouts and struck out the final batter of game to lead GWU to a 10-0 win in five innings. She threw a complete game and allowed just four hits while striking out four.
Seven Runnin' Bulldogs recorded hits with Ferguson (3-for-3, 3 RBI) and J. Wacaster (2-for-2, 3 runs scored) combining to go 5-for-5 at the plate.
Annamarie Warley, Booth, Owen, Perry and Sterrett each had one hit.
Gardner-Webb improves to 10-5 overall with the sweep of South Carolina State, while SCSU drops to 0-2.
Next up, the Runnin' Bulldogs will host its final tournament of the season – the Red and Black Tournament Sponsored by Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott – beginning on Friday.
The tournament will consist of 12 games over three days with Maryland Eastern Shore, Mercer, South Carolina State and Wright State traveling to Boiling Springs.
Gardner-Webb's first game of the tournament will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday against Maryland Eastern Shore.
