BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Brooke Perry hit a three-run home run in game one, and Gardner-Webb held a two-run lead entering the final inning of game two, but the Longwood Lancers earned come-from-behind wins in both contests to sweep the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Game One: Gardner-Webb 3, Longwood 6

Perry pitched a complete game and hit a three-run home run in the first inning, but the 'Dogs fell to the Lancers, 6-3.

Gardner-Webb (24-16, 3-7 Big South) welcomed Andria Booth back to the lineup and she began her return in style, singling and stealing second. Annamarie Warley's walk gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a pair on base with nobody out in the first.

Perry, the fourth batter, stepped to the plate with one out and crushed a ball over the left field fence. Her three-run shot gave Gardner-Webb a 3-0 lead, which it held until the sixth inning.

Perry gave up just a walk in the second and retired the Lancers in order in the third. She pitched around a leadoff single in the top of the fourth, but despite her stellar performance in the early innings, Gardner-Webb was unable to add additional runs.

In the bottom of the fourth, Kaylee Wacaster doubled to left field to start the frame, and Weslyn Almond was hit by a pitch with two outs, but the two were left stranded on the corners.

Perry got out of the fifth despite allowing a pair of walks and once again the Runnin' Bulldogs threatened, albeit unsuccessfully, during their half of the inning.

Warley reached on an error, and Autumn Owen walked, but a double play and groundout ended the inning.

Longwood (22-13, 9-1 Big South) tied the game in the top of the sixth. Three consecutive hits – two of which were doubles – helped the Lancers score their first two runs of the inning and pull within a run, 3-2. After an error by the Gardner-Webb defense kept the inning alive, a sacrifice fly plated the tying run.

In the bottom of the inning, K. Wcaster hit her second double of the game, and the 'Dogs loaded the bases via back-to-back walks with two outs. With the bases full, Longwood's Arleigh Wood got out of the inning with a groundout.

Two straight one-out doubles, followed by a two-run home run by Jordan Clark, gave LWU a 6-3 lead after the top of the seventh. Gardner-Webb was unable to complete the comeback and lost by three runs.

Perry (14-9) took the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs. She hurled all seven innings in the circle and surrendered six runs (five earned). Arleigh Wood (6-0) remained perfect on the year, improving to 6-0. She threw the final three innings in relief of Sydney Gay and allowed just one hit.

Perry (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) batted in all of Gardner-Webb's runs. K. Wacaster (2-for-3, BB) was the lone Runnin' Bulldog to have a multi-hit game.

Game Two: Gardner-Webb 4, Longwood 5

The Runnin' Bulldogs attempted to avenge a game one loss to the Lancers and led 3-0 heading into the seventh inning, but a big final inning put Longwood in front, and Gardner-Webb could not complete the comeback.

In the circle, Gardner-Webb's (24-17, 3-8 Big South) Reah Barger held Longwood scoreless for six of the seven innings, and the home team took a 2-0 lead after three complete innings.

Almond led off the third with a single, and Booth followed with a two-base hit, giving the 'Dogs runners on second and third. Owen batted in both runners with a one-out single to center field, but she was left stranded on base along with Perry, who walked following Owen's at-bat.

Both teams had two base runners in the fourth and one in the fifth but could not score.

Longwood (23-11, 10-1 Big South) got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth, cutting Gardner-Webb's lead in half. After Barger got back-to-back flyouts, Jenna Dunn recorded her only hit of the game, but it was a solo shot to left field and made it a 2-1 ballgame.

The Runnin' Bulldogs answered in their half of the sixth, pushing the lead back to two runs. With two outs, Callie Thornton doubled, and Almond was hit by a pitch in the shoulder. Booth singled up the middle, allowing Thornton to cross home plate and Almond to reach second.Almond and Booth both moved an additional 60 feet to second and third respectively, but Longwood's Sydney Backstrom got out of the inning.

The Lancers scored four runs in the seventh to take a 5-3 lead. A single, walk and error gave Longwood three baserunners and nobody out. A sacrifice fly was followed by a two-RBI double, which made it a 4-3 game in the Lancers' favor. Kasey Clark scored Longwood's final run on a wild pitch, and the visitors led by a pair with Gardner-Webb down to its final three outs.

Owen began Gardner-Webb's half of the inning with a walk and quickly stole second to give the 'Dogs life. K. Wacaster batted in Owen with a single up the middle, but Backstrom recorded two straight outs, and GWU fell, 5-4.

Backstrom (10-7) reached double-digit wins on the year and went the distance. She allowed four runs and struck out eight. Barger (5-3) received the loss. She also threw a complete game, giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits.

Destiny Martinez and Leah Powell both went 2-for-3 for the Lancers and Jordan Clark had a team-high two RBI. Owen (2-for-3, 2 RBI), K. Wacaster (2-for-3, RBI) and Almond (2-for-2) went a combined 6-for-8 for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Gardner-Webb will look to avoid being swept by Longwood with game three set to air live on ESPN+ at 2 p.m. tomorrow.