BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb won its second extra innings softball game in a row Sunday afternoon, beating Robert Morris by a 3-2 score in 11 innings.
Trinity Sterrett started the 11th on second base and quickly moved to third when
Autumn Owen moved her over with a sacrifice bunt to the right side. Slugger
Andrea Lyon worked a walk and when the final pitch got by the Colonials' catcher – Sterrett sprinted home for the game winner.
Gardner-Webb had a golden opportunity to win the game in the seventh, when
Kayleigh Nicholson doubled and
Weslyn Almond put runners on the corners with a two-out single. Almond stole second moments later, but the visiting team got a ground ball to send the game into extra innings.
Robert Morris got two on board in the ninth, but a pair of strikeouts by
Brooke Perry and a foul pop up ended the brief threat. The Colonials got another pair on in the 10th, but Perry again worked out of the jam – ending the frame with a strikeout.
Sterrett got the 'Dogs on the board first on Sunday, rapping out a single in her initial at bat. She stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Owen's sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 in the first inning.
Robert Morris answered in the top of the second, getting a leadoff single from Erika Bell. She later scored on an error following a bunt attempt to tie the game.
Nicholson singled home a run in the bottom of the fourth to put Gardner-Webb back in front, plating Ashley Goodrum for a 2-1 edge. Robert Morris wasted no time pulling even, taking advantage of a leadoff walk in the fifth when Briana Bunner drove home Alaina York with a single.
Gardner-Webb finished with eight hits on the day, led by Almond (2-for-5), Sterrett (2-for-5) and Nicholson (2-for-4) with two each. Lyon (1-for-4) and Goodrum (1-for-4) also had hits for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Perry picked up the win in the circle, hurling 4.0 innings of scoreless relief in high pressure situations. She fanned four, walked one and allowed just one hit for the victory.
Reah Barger scattered seven hits and allowed one earned run in 5.0 innings of work in a starting role, while
Tristen Horrell worked one scoreless frame.
Dana Vatakis took the loss for Robert Morris, pitching all 10.1 innings for the visiting team
Robert Morris had 10 hits in the game, with Madison Riggle leading that production with a 3-for-5 afternoon at the plate.
The Colonials left 15 runners on base Sunday, while Gardner-Webb stranded 10.
Gardner-Webb is back in action next weekend, hosting the GWU Softball Tournament on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The 'Dogs begin action on Friday at 1:30 pm against Northern Kentucky in Brinkley Softball Stadium.
