ROCK HILL, SC – The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs got three runners in scoring position, and Annamarie Warley's sixth inning double broke up a no-hitter, but the 'Dogs fell to the Winthrop Eagles, 5-0, on Saturday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb (21-13, 2-4 Big South) threatened in the first as leadoff batter Trinity Sterrett walked and found herself on third with two outs. Sterrett was left stranded as a strikeout ended the inning.
Withrop (15-16, 4-5 Big South) took the lead on a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the first.
The Runnin' Bulldogs went down in order in the second and third innings, but Warley got into scoring position in the fourth.
With her team down 2-0 after three complete innings, Warley reached on error to start the inning. She advanced to second on a groundout, but made it no further, as the Eagles got out of the inning.
The Eagles extended their lead to five runs in the bottom of the fifth, and in the top of the sixth, Warley broke up a no-hit bid by Winthrop's Bella Roy.
With two outs, Warley took the first two pitches and was ahead in the count, 2-0 before roping a double into left field. The two-base hit was Gardner-Webb's only hit of the game, and the second time that the senior outfielder made it into scoring position.
A strikeout ended Gardner-Webb's half of the sixth, and Brooke Perry allowed only a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth.
Roy (3-2) preserved the shutout for the Eagles, working around a two-out walk to Perry in the top of the seventh. She threw all seven innings and allowed just one hit, while striking out 11 and walking three. Perry (13-7) also spent the entire game in the circle but took the loss. She allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits.
Warley (1-for-2, 2B) recorded the 'Dogs' lone hit, and Blake Wallert (2-for-3, 3 RBI) led Winthrop at the plate.
Gardner-Webb will play eight games next week – all at Brinkley Stadium – beginning with a doubleheader against Campbell. The Runniin' Bulldogs and Fighting Camels will begin the series on Tuesday, April 2 with games scheduled for 4 and 6 p.m. Game three is set for Wednesday at 5 p.m.
The 'Dogs will also host North Carolina A&T on Thursday, April 4 (2 and 4 p.m.) and conclude with a three-game weekend series against Longwood on Saturday and Sunday.
