BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb softball split a pair of games Saturday, beating Maryland Eastern Shore by a 9-1 count after falling to Mercer, 5-4, in extra innings.

The games were the final two in a busy day at Brinkley Softball Stadium, which saw six games played after rain stymied Friday's originally scheduled action.

GAME TWO: Gardner-Webb 9, UMES 1 (5 innings)

The Runnin' Bulldogs put up a five spot in the first to seize control in the nightcap and tacked on two runs in the third, one in the fourth and another in the fifth to end things early.

Andria Booth led things off with an infield single, stole second and moved to third when the throw got away. The All-America candidate scored the game's first run on a wild pitch, but Gardner-Webb was far from finished offensively.

Annamarie Warley followed with a double to left and came around to make the score 2-0 when Kaylee Wacaster smoked a triple into right field. Brooke Perry followed with an RBI single to right and Wacaster trotted home for a 3-0 lead.

Meredith Ferguson kept the rally going with an RBI double to center – which scored Perry for a 4-0 edge. Trinity Sterrett reached on an error and Ferguson scored on the play for the 5-0 cushion.

Maryland Eastern Shore got on the board in the second, but Gardner-Webb rallied again in the third. Perry led off the frame with a single and pinch runner Abbey Goodrum stole second and scored on a bases loaded situation when Weslyn Almond was hit by a pitch.

Booth was plunked in the next plate appearance, driving home Lauren Huffman for a 7-1 lead, before UMES could get out of the jam.

Ferguson singled home Wacaster in the fourth for an 8-1 lead and Wacaster ended the game in the fifth with an RBI single to right that plated Booth for the final margin.

Gardner-Webb rapped out 12 hits in the game, paced by Wacaster (3-for-4), Perry (2-for-2) and Booth (2-for-3). 

Laken Myers picked up the win, hurling 5.0 innings and allowing just two hits. She fanned 10 batters and walked just two in a sterling performance.

GAME ONE: Mercer 5, Gardner-Webb 4 (8 innings)

Mercer pushed one run across in the top of the eight inning and retired Gardner-Webb in order in the bottom half to pull out a 5-4 extra innings win on Saturday evening.

The Bears rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh to pull even. All nine of the game's runs were scored after five complete innings.

Mercer took a 1-0 lead in the top fo the sixth, but saw Gardner-Webb storm back with four runs in the bottom half. The Runnin' Bulldogs got a leadoff single from speedy Andria Booth and a double from Annamarie Warley to get things started.

Kaylee Wacaster came up big, putting Gardner-Webb in front 2-1 with a two-run triple to right. Brooke Perry followed with an RBI double to right, driving home Wacaster for a 3-1 lead. A sacrifice fly from Meredith Ferguson pushed the lead to 4-1 before Mercer could get back into the dugout.

Mercer tied the game with three runs in the seventh, getting a bases loaded walk, an infield single and a wild pitch to plate that trio of runs. Booth gave Gardner-Webb a chance in the bottom half of the seventh, lacing a one-out single to center – and stealing second base – but the Bears got out of the jam to send the game into extra innings.

Gardner-Webb managed nine hits in the game, with Booth (3-for-4) pacing that effort. Amber Owen (2-for-4) also had a pair of hits, while Wacaster (1-for-4) drove in a pair.

Perry took the loss, scattering 11 hits and allowing just three earned runs in 8.0 innings of work. She struck out nine and walked eight in the start.

Gardner-Webb will be back in action against Wright State on Sunday afternoon.