CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Jenna Wacaster's two-run home run led the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs past the Western Carolina Catamounts in game one, 9-7, while Annamarie Warley batted in three runs in GWU's 5-1 victory in the nightcap.
Game One: Gardner-Webb 9, Western Carolina 7
In the opening game of Tuesday's doubleheader, Warley's leadoff double provided early momentum for the Runinn' Bulldogs, who went up 1-0 when Warley scored on a throwing error following Brooke Perry's single.
The momentum quickly changed in favor of Western Carolina, as the Catamounts tied the game in the bottom of the second and scored five runs the following inning, with the majority of runs coming via base hits.
Trailing 6-1, Gardner-Webb battled back, pulling within three runs in the top of the fourth. All three of the Runnin' Bulldogs' runs in the inning came via solo home runs. Perry led off the inning with a bomb to center field before Weslyn Almond and Meredith Ferguson also homered. Almond hit a bomb over the center field fence, while Ferguson hit one to left center field.
Western Carolina extended its lead to 7-4, but Autumn Owen, a two-time Big South Freshman of the Week honoree, hit a three-run shot with two outs in the fifth to tie the game. J.Wacaster and Warley scored when Owen homered, and it was Wacaster who would give GWU the lead the following the inning.
In the top of the sixth, J. Wacaster hit Gardner-Webb's fifth home run of the game to give the Runnin' Bulldogs the lead. After Warley walked with one out, Wacaster hit her third home run of the year to put the Runnin' Bulldogs ahead.
With one out in the seventh, a 42-minute rain delay halted the action, but the delay did not phase the 'Dogs, who got of a jam thanks to Perry.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Perry entered the circle in place of Reah Barger. She allowed a walk which loaded the bases but got a game-ending groundout and was credited with the save.
Barger (3-1) earned the win, throwing 4.1 innings and surrendering just one run. Laken Myers started the game, but her day was cut short after only 2.1 innings and five earned runs surrendered. The Catamounts' Kylie Shay took the loss. Shay spent 2.1 innings in the circle and gave up the home run to J. Wacaster which proved to be the difference.
At the plate, the Runnin' Bulldogs hit five home runs as a team. Perry, Almond, Ferguson, Owen and Wacaster all hit bombs, with Wacaster's being the lone homer run that was not a solo shot. Western Carolina's Ashlyn Long led the Catamounts with a 2-for-4 day and an RBI.
Game Two: Gardner-Webb 5, Western Carolina 1
Annamarie Warley accounted for all three of Gardner-Webb's RBI in the nightcap, as she led the Runnin' Bulldogs over the Catamounts, 5-1
It was a pitcher's duel in the early innings, with Brooke Perry and WCU's Shaina Reed allowing a combined three hits through the first three frames.
Two of the three hits were by the Runnin' Bulldogs as Trinity Sterrett singled with one out and came home to score when Warley doubled. Warley was thrown out at third for the final out of the inning.
Gardner-Webb would maintain a 1-0 lead until the fifth when Warley batted in a pair of runners with two outs. Following Sterrett's single and Andria Booth's walk, Warley singled and moved to second on the throw. Both Sterrett and Booth scored as Gardner-Webb took a 3-0 lead.
Western Carolina would get one run back in the bottom of the fifth to reduce the Runnin' Bulldogs' lead to 3-1 via an RBI double.
Perry forced the Catamounts to strand a runner in scoring position in the sixth, and the 'Dogs added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh.
This time, Booth batted in Lily Pressley and Sterrett. Pressley reached via an error, while Sterrett got on base with her third hit of the game. Booth's two-RBI single made it a 5-1 contest in favor of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Perry (12-7) shut down the Catamounts in the seventh inning and won her 12th game of the year. She allowed just four hits and one run in the complete-game effort. Reed (2-9) took the loss for Western Carolina, allowing six runs in 6.1 innings of work.
At the plate, Warley (2-for-2, 3 RBI), Booth (1-for-2, 2 RBI) and Sterrett (3-for-3) led the 'Dogs. Bailey Huneycutt went 2-for-3 for the Catamounts.
Gardner-Webb improves to 20-11 overall, while Western Carolina falls to 10-17.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to action this weekend, when they travel to Winthrop for a Big South Conference series. The 'Dogs and Eagles will play a doubleheader on Friday, March 29 (4 and 6 p.m.) and a single game the following day (1 p.m.).
