BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.  – The Gardner-Webb University softball team opened their 2024 campaign by earning a pair of victories in the Runnin' Bulldog Classic. GWU bested the University of Delaware 3-2, and East Tennessee State University 13-5.
 
Gardner-Webb started the first game getting a pair runs on the board by the third inning thanks to RBI's from Jailyn Tineo and Taylor Dreher. Delaware tallied a home run the fifth and double in the sixth to close the gap on the 'Dawgs. Tineo ultimately doubled in the bottom the sixth to send Haley Yeary home. Kalyn Kyle earned the win as the 'Dawgs hung on 3-2.
 
The 'Dawgs then turned right around to score 13 runs Runnin' away from the Buccaneers of ETSU. The first four innings saw the teams trade the lead entering the fourth inning tied at four runs. ETSU briefly took a one run lead on a wild pitch before Gardner-Webb answered with a seven-run bottom of fifth. All seven were scored on RBI's with Ella Cristopher batting in three when she tripled to get the run started. Alyssa Bonilla scored two more for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter. 13-5 was the final as Gardner-Webb begins their season 2-0 for the third season in a row. Christopher leads GWU in RBI's while, Dreher leads in runs scored.
 
UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldog Classic continues on Saturday, Feb. 10 as GWU hosts Delaware at 1:00 p.m. and Youngstown State at 5:00 p.m.