Gardner-Webb combined for 15 runs throughout the doubleheader on its way to two wins over North Carolina Central Saturday.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs offense got going right out of the gate, scoring three runs in the first inning of the day.
 
Kasey Fava reached first on an error, and Annicka McLaughlin hit a single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Andrea Lyon flied out to right field and moved Fava to third. McLaughlin broke for second and Fava scored when the catcher threw it over second base and into the outfield. Adrienne Visintine then singled down the left field line, putting McLaughlin on third. Visintine stole second before Taylor Perry grounded out to first, scoring McLaughlin. Bridgette Strobl then singled up the middle, making it 3-0.
 
In the second, Alyssa Bonilla doubled to center field. Fava walked, and then McLaughlin bunted her way to first, loading the bases. Andrea Lyon then singled to center field, scoring Bonilla. Visintine went to first on a fielder's choice before Perry singled down the right field line, scoring two and giving Gardner-Webb a 6-0 lead.
 
The Eagles scored a pair of runs in the third and sixth innings to make it 6-2.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Fava singled down the right field line and stole second. She was able to take third and home on wild pitches as Gardner-Webb would take game one 7-2.
 
Alyssa Bonilla and Annicka McLaughlin both had two hits with Fava, Lyon, Visintine, Perry, Strobl, and Bella Ligotti registering a hit each. Perry finished with three RBIs, while Lyon and Strobl added one each.
 
Andrea Lyon started in the circle and Alli Stidham took over in the fourth. Lyon had four strikeouts and Stidham seven.
 
In game two Gardner-Webb scored early again, getting on the board in the first inning.
 
Kasey Fava singled and stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Andrea Lyon singled down the left field line, scoring the runner, and giving the 'dogs a 1-0 lead.
 
Neither team scored in the second, but Gardner-Webb used a 5-run third inning to take off with game two.
 
Fava and McLaughlin singled to start the inning. Lyon doubled to left field, scoring the runners from first and second. Visintine singled up the middle, moved the pinch runner to third, and then stole second. Taylor Perry singled down the right field line, scoring Abbey Goodrum from third, and adding to her RBI total for the day. Following a pitching change, Bella Ligotti walked and Kayleigh Nicholson doubled to centerfield, scoring two more runs.
 
Gardner-Webb would take a 6-0 lead into the fourth inning.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, McLaughin reached first on error and took second on a wild pitch. Abbey Goodrum walked and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Perry singled to right to score McLaughlin, and then Stroble singled up the middle to score Goodrum and the Runnin' Bulldogs went up 8-0.
 
North Carolina Central scored a run in the bottom fifth and Gardner-Webb would go on to win in seven.
 
Fava, McLaughlin, Lyon, and Perry all had multiple hits in game two. Visintine, Strobl, and Nicholson each had hits of their own. Lyon had three RBIs, Perry and Nicholson both had two, and Strobl added one.
 
Kalyn Kyle pitched all seven for the 'dogs, striking out six batters. After the game she said, "I knew if I did my part, my teammates were going to do theirs."
 
GWU will close out the series with NCCU Sunday, March 12, at noon.
 
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