CHARLESTON, SC – Brooke Perry shined in a sweep of Charleston Southern on Thursday, pitching a shutout in Gardner-Webb's 3-0 game one triumph and earning the save in the Runnin' Bulldogs 8-3 victory in the final game of the doubleheader.

Game One: Gardner-Webb 3, Charleston Southern 0

Perry pitched a one-hitter and allowed just three base runners, while fanning 12 batters in the 3-0 victory.

Gardner-Webb (27-22, 6-13 Big South) began the game with a bang when Andria Booth hit an inside the park home run for the second consecutive season. Last year, her lone home run of the year came in a win over North Carolina Central as she hit the ball over the head of the right fielder who misplayed it. The ball rolled to the right field fence and Booth motored around the bases to score. This year, she hit a ball through the right side of the infield and quickly made her away around the bases and crossed home.

Holding a one-run lead after one batter, the Runnin' Bulldogs extended their lead to three runs at the conclusion of the top of the first.

Back-to-back walks gave the 'Dogs runners on first and second, and Jenna Wacaster's double to right field plated Weslyn Almond and moved Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year candidate Autumn Owen to third. Owen scored on an RBI single down the right field line by Perry.

With a 3-0 lead after the top of the first, Perry struck out the first three Bucs she faced, as all three were caught looking. The Clemmons, N.C. native sat the Bucs down in order in the second and third innings as well, once again fanning all three batters in the third frame.

In the top of the fourth, the Runnin' Bulldogs only sent three to the plate for the thing inning in a row, and in the bottom of the frame, the Bucs got their first hit of the contest.

Charleston Southern's (16-32, 10-9 Big South) Annie Bakenhus singled through the left side to start the bottom of the inning, but three straight outs held CSU scoreless after four complete innings.  

The Bucs threatened in the fifth, getting a runner into scoring position for the first time. With one out, a fielding error and walk allowed two to reach, but Perry forced them to remain stranded and preserved Gardner-Webb's three-run lead.

Over the final two innings, neither team was able to muster any runs, and Perry sat down Charleston Southern in order to give Gardner-Webb win 27 on the year. The sophomore improved to 17-10 overall and allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out 12. Arizona Pilgrim took the loss. Pilgrim did not record an out and gave up three earned runs.

The Runnin' Bulldogs got three hits – all in the first inning – with Booth hitting an inside the part home run and J. Wcaster and Perry both getting RBI base knocks.

Game Two: Gardner-Webb 8, Charleston Southern 3

Gardner-Webb began the first inning of game two in the same way as game one, scoring three runs to take the early lead.

A one-out double by Almond, and walk by Owen brought Kaylee Wacaster to the plate. The Crest HS product hit a bases clearing triple to right center field, giving GWU a 2-0 lead. The 'Dogs plated their final run of the inning when J. Wacaster came to the plate and singled, allowing her sister to cross home plate.

Charleston Southern (16-33, 10-10 Big South) managed three singles through the first two innings, but Reah Barger forced the Bucs to strand all three base runners.

Gardner-Webb (28-22, 7-13 Big South) extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the third when Meredith Ferguson's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded scored K. Wacaster. With two on, the 'Dogs were unable to do any additional damage, as a pop out ended the inning.

Two straight singles to start the bottom of the third gave Charleston Southern life. Jada Gandara, the third batter of the inning, recorded an RBI fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and the Bucs scored their second run of the frame on a throwing error to pull within two runs after four complete innings.

Following a quiet fourth, CSU began the fifth with two singles, and Gandara again batted in a run, this time on a groundout.

With one on, Perry entered in relief of Barger and got the final two outs of the inning, as Gardner-Webb clung to a narrow 4-3 lead after five innings.

In the top of the sixth, the Runnin' Bulldogs extended their lead to 8-3 thanks to a pair of dingers and an RBI double.

Callie Thornton led off the inning with a solo shot to left field, and Almond hit a two-run homer to left field after Booth reached.

A two-out walk by J. Wacaster brought Annamarie Warley to the plate, and she doubled to left center field, scoring Wacaster and giving Gardner-Webb a five-run advantage.

Perry got a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and pitched around a leadoff double in the seventh to earn the save. Barger (6-6) earned the win. She threw 4.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned), while striking out one. Perry tossed the final 2.1 innings to record her second save of the season. She gave up just one hit. For Charleston Southern, Holly Clark received the loss. She lasted just 0.1 innings in the circle and allowed three runs, all earned.

At the plate, Almond (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), Thornton (2-for-4, HR, RBI) and J. Wacaster (1-for-2, RBI) led the Runnin' Bulldogs. Freshman Brooklyn Brewington went 3-for-3 for the Bucs.

The two teams will take tomorrow off before playing the final game of the series on Saturday, April 20 at 2 p.m. The game will broadcast live on ESPN3 with Mike Gleason and Nate Ross on the call.