LUBBOCK, Texas – Meredith Ferguson's two-RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh capped off a back-and-forth contest and gave Gardner-Webb a 9-8 walk-off win over the Northern Colorado Bears on Saturday.
Gardner-Webb (14-7) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when
Autumn Owen homered to start the inning, but Northern Colorado tied the game in the top of the following frame with an RBI single.
In the third,
Andria Booth led off with a triple, and two batters later,
Kaylee Wacaster singled, giving GWU runners on the corners with one out. Wacaster moved into scored position by stealing second and both runners came home when
Brooke Perry singled up the middle. Perry's two-RBI base knock gave the 'Dogs a 3-1 lead.
Northern Colorado (4-19) did not allow GWU to lead for long as it scored four runs – all with two outs – to take a 5-3 lead in the top of the fifth.
Just like the Runnin' Bulldogs' lead did not last long after the third, the Bears' lead would disappear before the completion of the fifth inning.
A walk by Booth and single by
Annamarie Warley put two runners on for Perry, and her three-RBI home run put the 'Dogs on top, 6-5. Gardner-Webb added an insurance when Ferguson's RBI double scored
Jenna Wacaster.
Gardner-Webb held a two-run lead after five innings of play, but Northern Colorado had other ideas and re-took the lead in the top of the seventh.
An RBI triple with two outs scored three runs and put the Bears back in front, 8-7, with the Runnin' Bulldogs down to their final three outs.
Another lead change took place in Gardner-Webb's half of the seventh, and this one ended the game for good, 9-8, in favor of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Northern Colorado's Valerie Vidal was unable to record an out in the inning. Perry walked, and
Abbey Goodrum entered as a pinch runner. The next batter, Owen, reached on a bunt and Goodrum advanced to second, giving the 'Dogs life.
A single by J. Wacaster loaded the bases for Ferguson, and facing an 0-2 count, she smacked a ball to right field. Goodrum and Owen both came around to score, as GWU earned the walk-off win.
Perry (2-for-3, 5 RBI) led Gardner-Webb at the plate and also earned her ninth win of the year by throwing five innings in the circle. Ferguson (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Warley (2-for-4, run) and J. Wacaster (2-for-3, run) also recorded two hits each..
Northern Colorado's Kenzie Kudrna and Mady Young each had two hits, while Emma Brockmann batted in three runs. Vidal took the loss, throwing five innings and giving up all nine runs.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will conclude play the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic tomorrow at 11 a.m. with its second battle against #15 Texas Tech.
