Boiling Springs, N.C. – Gardner-Webb remained perfect during the opening weekend of the 2019 season, defeating George Washington in five innings, 10-1, and Georgetown in six innings, 10-2.

Game One: George Washington 1, Gardner-Webb 10 (5 innings)

For the second consecutive game a big first inning lifted the Runnin' Bulldogs to a convincing win. Gardner-Webb used eight runs in the bottom of the first after Laken Myers sat down the Colonials in order.

The Runnin' Bulldogs batted around before the Colonials retired a batter. Andria Booth began the game with a leadoff single before back-to-back triples by Kaylee Wacaster and Autumn Owen plated two runs. Brooke Perry's RBI single gave the 'Dogs a 3-0 lead and three batters later, Meredith Ferguson drew a bases loaded walk.

Three straight RBI singles and a sacrifice fly helped Gardner-Webb score four additional runs before the inning ended.

Myers retired George Washington in order in each of her five innings pitched except the second. The Colonials lone run of the contest came via a sacrifice fly.

The Runnin' Bulldogs scored their final two runs in the bottom of the fourth. K. Wacaster and Owen began the inning with back-to-back doubles, and following a groundout, Annamarie Warley made solid contact for a double in the left-center gap that allowed both runners to score. Warley made it a 10-1 game in favor of Gardner-Webb.

Myers (1-0) got a flyout, popout and groundout to end the game and pick up her first win of the year. She gave up just one unearned run and allowed only two hits. George Washington's Kaitlin Buff (1-1) received the loss. Buff did not record an out and gave up six runs, all earned.

At the plate, K. Wacaster and Owen led the Runnin' Bulldogs, going a combined 5-for-5 with four RBI and four runs scored. Marta Fuentes and Hannah Eslick got hits for George Washington.

Game Two: Georgetown 2, Gardner-Webb 10

The offensive firepower continued for Gardner-Webb in game two, although it was spread out among multiple innings as the 'Dogs topped the Georgetown Hoys, 10-2, in six innings.

K. Wacaster continued her stellar day at the plate with a two-run homer over to left-center field to give the home team an early 2-0 lead. One inning later, the 'Dogs doubled their run total with Callie Thornton and Andria Booth both batting in runs.

Georgetown got one run back in the top of the fourth, but K. Wacaster would once again come up big at the plate. After a wild pitch allowed Callie Thornton to score, Wacaster batted in two runs with a single threw the right side that allowed Almond and Meredith Ferguson to score. Wacaster's two-RBI single gave Gardner-Webb a 7-1 lead.

The Hoyas scored their final run in the top of the fourth and over the final two innings, Gardner-Webb scored three runs en route to the win.

With runners on a first and second in the bottom of the fifth, Meredith Ferguson hit a two-RBI double, and the following inning, Annamarie Warley singled up the middle, plating Kaylee Wacaster.

Warley's RBI invoked the eight-run rule after five or more innings. Gardner-Webb earned the 10-2 win over the Hoyas in just six innings.

Perry (2-0) picked up her second win as a Runnin' Bulldog, pitching all six innings and giving up two runs on nine hits. She struck out eight. Cassie Henning (0-1) took the loss.

Ferguson went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while K. Wacaster recorded two hits and ended the day 5-of-6 with six RBI.

Gardner-Webb will finish opening weekend and look to improve to 4-0 with a 1:30 p.m. contest against Furman tomorrow, Sunday, February 9.