BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb won game one against the Furman Paladins in dramatic fashion before dropping game two.
Furman jumped out in front early, scoring four in the first inning. They added two in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, and would take a 9-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Alyssa Bonilla singled up the middle to get the offense going in the fifth inning for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Annicka McLaughlin bunted her way to first, and moved the runner all the way to third from an error on the throw.
Emily Garcia reached first on a fielder's choice, which brought the top of the order up for Gardner-Webb.
Kasey Fava singled down the left field line and scored the pinch runner from third. Garcia advanced to third and went home on an error at home plate to put the 'dogs on the board with two runs.
Neither team scored in the sixth and Gardner-Webb used the bottom of the seventh to rally from down seven runs.
McLaughlin got things started with a single to third base. Garcia followed with a single to right field to put runners on first and second. Fava bunted and beat the throw to load the bases with no outs.
Adrienne Visintine singled up the middle to score McLaughlin and move the runners over.
Kiara Kennedy reached first on a fielder's choice, where the Paladins threw Garcia out at home plate.
Andrea Lyon came to the plate with the bases loaded, and one out in the bottom of the seventh when she hit a grand slam to bring the 'dogs within two.
Following the homerun,
Ella Christopher walked.
Alexa Key tripled to score Christopher from first and put the tying run on third base. McLaughlin delivered with a single and forced extra innings.
Furman put one on the board in the top of the eighth to make it 10-9 before Gardner-Webb would once again be at the top of the order in the game's most important moments. Fava singled up the middle to put runners on the corners for Visintine. The Colorado native hit one over the center field wall that never had a doubt to complete the comeback and win the game 12-10 in eight innings.
Alli Stidham was credited with the win after coming in to throw the eighth for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Visintine and Lyon had four RBIs each in game one with Key, McLaughlin, and Fava all adding RBIs of their own.
Stidham started game two on the mound for Gardner-Webb until
Kalyn Kyle and
Clara Wyatt were called upon in the third and fourth innings.
In the bottom of the second
Bridgette Strobl reached base from an error by the shortstop and brought up
Alexa Key. Key singled and Strobl scored from another error by the Paladins to make it 1-0.
Furman responded in the third, scoring four to take a three-run advantage. Garcia was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the inning and was batted over by Fava. Visintine singled and Garcia scored from an error to make it 4-2. With two outs and Visintine on base, Lyon hit her second homerun of the day and tied the game at 4.
Unfortunately for Gardner-Webb, Furman would go on to score seven unanswered runs to close out game two.
Visintine, Kennedy, Fava, and Key all registered a hit each. Lyon was 1-3 and had the 'dogs' only two RBIs.
GWU will travel to Orlando to play in the UCF Tournament next. The Runnin' Bulldogs are set to face the Knights in a doubleheader Thursday at 3 P.M.
For more information on Gardner-Webb Softball be sure to follow them on social media @GWUSoftball.
