GREENSBORO, N.C. – Gardner-Webb split day two of the Spartan Classic, shutting out Army 7-0 before falling to UNCG 3-5 Sunday afternoon.
GWU got out to a great start in its first game, scoring an early run to establish a lead over Army.
Ella Christopher and
Andrea Lyon both singled to put runners on first and second for
Adrienne Visintine. Visintine doubled down the left field line, scoring a runner, and notching her first of four RBIs for the game.
With a 1-0 lead heading into the second,
Bella Ligotti singled to left center to lead off the inning. After
Abbey Goodrum walked,
Alyssa Bonilla reached first on a fielder's choice that moved Ligotti to third. Christopher then singled to first, scoring another run for the 'dogs.
Neither team budged until Gardner-Webb added to its lead in the sixth.
Kiara Kennedy reached first from an error, and
Annicka McLaughlin came in to run for her. Ligotti singled, moving the runner to second. Goodrum then laid down a sacrifice bunt, putting runners on second and third with one out. After another pinch runner entered the game,
Alyssa Bonilla flew out to center field, which scored McLaughlin and put
Meredith Wayland on third. Wayland then used her speed to score from a wild pitch.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took a 4-0 lead into the top of the seventh with Christopher, Lyon, and
Emily Garcia due up. Christopher reached first from an error and took second on a wild pitch. Garcia was hit by a pitch to bring Visintine up with one out. Visintine sent one over the right field wall to score three runs and Gardner-Webb took game one 7-0.
Andrea Lyon started in the circle and retired six batters before handing things over to
Alli Stidham in the sixth. Stidham struck out two as both pitchers combined to keep Army off the board.
Visintine led the way with four RBIs on three hits in four at-bats. Christopher also had an RBI and joined Ligotti with two hits. Lyon and Garcia both registered a hit each in the victory.
In the second game, Gardner-Webb took on a UNCG team that had yet to lose over the weekend.
The Spartans struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0.
The GWU defense held true in the second and third before UNCG added a run in the fourth.
Down 2-0 with two outs in the top of the fifth,
Ella Christopher hit her first collegiate homerun to bring the 'dogs within a run. Senior
Andrea Lyon followed it up with a long ball of her own as Gardner-Webb tied the game with back-to-back shots over the center field wall.
UNCG responded in the sixth, scoring three runs to take a 5-2 advantage.
With a half inning to rally,
Alyssa Bonilla walked in the top of the seventh.
Taylor Dreher singled to right field and moved Bonilla to second. Lyon then grounded out, advancing the runners.
Emily Garcia hit a two-out single to third base and scored the runner from third.
Unfortunately for the Runnin' Bulldogs, they unable to find two more runs as they fell in game two 5-3.
A pair of freshmen, Garcia and Christopher both had two hits with an RBI each. Garcia hit two singles, and Christopher hit a single to go along with a solo-shot in the fifth. Lyon had the 'dogs' other RBI with her game-tying homerun to center field. Dreher and
Annicka McLaughlin both registered hits, hitting a single each.
Kalyn Kyle was the starting pitcher for Gardner-Webb in game two.
Clara Wyatt and
Alli Stidham both saw action before Kyle re-entered in the sixth to finish the game. Kyle and Stidham struck out two batters each.
Gardner-Webb is next in action Tuesday, March 21, when it will host Western Carolina for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00 P.M. on ESPN+ in what will be GWU's final non-conference matchup of the 2023 season.
