GREENVILLE, N.C. – Gardner-Webb softball battled once again on Saturday afternoon, but fell in both games at the ECU Pirate Clash tournament.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (6-8) dropped a tough 8-6 decision to Villanova in the first game of the day and fell 17-10 to host East Carolina in the nightcap.
GAME ONE – Villanova 8, Gardner-Webb 6
Villanova jumped out to a 4-0 lead after its first two at bats, before Gardner-Webb rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. The Wildcats countered with a single run in the third to go up 5-2, but Coach
Bailey Wigness' gritty squad plated two runs to trim the lead to 5-4 with a rally in the fourth
Villanova would add some insurance in the fifth and sixth, scoring three times over those two frames to go up 8-4. Gardner-Webb did not go quietly, scoring twice in the sixth to cut the lead back to two, but would not be able to pull any closer.
Andrea Lyon went the distance in the circle, scattering 10 hits and allowing seven earned runs with two strikeouts. Gardner-Webb managed five hits in the game, with Kate Mitchell going a perfect 3-for-3 to lead that effort.
Abbey Goodrum went 1-for-1 with two walks and two RBI from her leadoff spot and
Riley McCurry came on to finish 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Villanova had 10 hits, with three batters collecting two each.
GAME TWO – East Carolina 17, Gardner-Webb 10
Gardner-Webb exploded for nine runs in the top of the third to take a 10-5 lead against the host Pirates, but East Carolina rallied to score nine runs of their own in the bottom fo the sixth to capture a 17-10 win.
Abby Goodrum started the third inning rally with a double down the line, then
Andrea Lyon drove in two runs with a double to right center.
Molly Montgomery followed with a double to drive home Lyon, and Araceli Pesquiera singled to load the bases after a walk to Strobl.
Kayleigh Nicholson earned an RBI when she was hit by a pitch and
Riley McCurry followed with an RBI single to drive home another run. An error by the Pirates kept the inning going and, after
Katie Mitchell walked to load the sacks again – Lyon stepped in with a two-run single to give Gardner-Webb its 10-5 lead.
ECU tacked on a run in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 10-6 and closed within 10-8 after scoring two more in the fifth.
The Pirates struck for their big rally, collecting seven hits in the inning to score nine runs.
Gardner-Webb got a base runner on in the top of the seventh on a Pesquiera single, but East Carolina worked out of the trouble to secure the win.
Gardner-Webb rapped out 10 hits, with Lyon going 3-for-3 at the dish with five RBI. Mitchell and Pesquiera were each 2-for-4.
The Pirates collected 16 hits in the game, with Jocelyn Alonso going 3-for-3 to lead the home team.
Gardner-Webb will wrap up their tournament appearance in Greenville, N.C., on Sunday with another game against the host Pirates.
