ORLANDO – Gardner-Webb split its two games Friday from the UCF Softball Complex.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs took on Bradley at 9:00 A.M. in game one of the day. Bradley scored two early runs in the top of the second and would take a 2-0 advantage all the way into the fifth inning.
 
In the fifth, Bradley scored four more. They added one in the sixth to go up seven before Gardner-Webb responded with two runs of its own.
 
Kiara Kennedy singled to right field and Andrea Lyon doubled to move the pinch runner to third. Taylor Perry came up and singled, scoring the runner from third and Emily Garcia, who was pinch running for Lyon scored from an error.
 
Unfortunately, that would be all for GWU as they would fall in game one.
 
Taylor Dreher, Alexa Key, Abbey Goodrum, Perry, Lyon, Kennedy, and Adrienne Visintine all had hits with Perry earning the 'dogs lone RBI.
 
Lyon struck out seven in five innings before Kalyn Kyle replaced her in the sixth.
 
In game two, Gardner-Webb used a seventh inning rally to come from behind and stun Columbia.
 
The Lions jumped out to a 2-run advantage in the first inning before Gardner-Webb answered in the second.
 
Emily Garcia and Annicka McLaughlin walked to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Kaleigh Nicholson doubled down the left field line to tie the game at two.
 
Columbia would regain the lead, scoring runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to make it 5-2.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Garcia hit her first homerun of the year to bring the 'dogs back within two.
 
In the top of the seventh, Columbia added a run and put Runnin' Bulldogs down three with three outs to rally.
 
Visintine started things out with a single up the middle. She went on two advance to second and third on two wild pitches. Kasey Fava and Kiara Kennedy walked when Visintine went home on a passed ball.
 
With two runners on, in the bottom of the seventh, Gardner-Webb's RBI leader, Andrea Lyon doubled to score both and tie the game at six. Alexa Key pinch ran for Lyon and advanced to third and ultimately home on two more wild pitches, completing the rally for Gardner-Webb.
 
Visintine, Lyon, and Garcia had one hit each for GWU. Nicholson was 2-3 with two RBIs. Lyon had two of her own and Garcia added one with her solo-shot.
 
The freshman, Alli Stidham started on the mound for the 'dogs, and Kalyn Kyle came in in the fifth, earning the win. Stidham struck out three batters and Kyle four.
 
Gardner-Webb will wrap up the Knights classic tomorrow against Columbia before they head home from Orlando. First pitch is set for 9:00 A.M. from the UCF Softball Complex.