BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University softball team finished out the Runnin' Bulldog Classic on Sunday morning, defeating Drexel 8-0 and via run-rule behind a seven run bottom of the fourth inning

The scoring got started early from Gardner-Webb, with junior shortstop Ella Christopher continuing an incredible weekend at the plate. The Longwood, Fla. native reached with 10 hits through the four game tournament, adding one of those to her tally with an RBI double in the first inning to give GWU a 1-0 lead.

Gardner-Webb loaded the bases in the third, but it was the fourth inning where the 'Dawgs would do damage. Just in the bottom of the fourth alone, Gardner-Webb tallied seven runs, six hits, and sent 11 different players up to the plate.

Christopher was again front and center with an RBI single in the middle of the inning, but the Runnin' Bulldogs also got big hits from junior left fielder Maura Pendelton who singled two runs home up the middle, and freshman center fielder Lauren Spainhower who collected her first hit and RBI for Gardner-Webb, scoring Pendelton with a double down the line in left. Junior catcher Taylor Dreher stepped in as a pinch hitter late in the fourth, forcing home the final run of a big Gardner-Webb inning to make the score 8-0.

In the circle, freshman right-hander Hannah Frye picked up her first collegiate win on Sunday morning, tossing 4.0 innings, scattering three hits, and striking out a pair. Freshman right-hander Anna Hornbaker got her first collegiate action in the fifth inning, allowing just one hit and quickly retiring Drexel to complete the game.

UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs are back in action on Wednesday afternoon, hosting Iona in a midweek doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on February 12th from Brinkley Stadium

FROM THE COACH
"Saturday and Sunday were a lot better. The energy on the bench was absolutely incredible. We were kind of missing that on day one, so the bench brought the energy. I thought our pitchers did a good job pounding the zone and our defense made plays when they had to. The offense, we moved runners, got them on, had timely hits, it was really exciting to see that" said head coach Bailey Wigness.

I think my favorite thing about the weekend, obviously Ella Christopher had a phenomenal weekend but we used five different starting lineups, so it wasn't just one person. Araceli Pesqueria had a great weekend and some timely hits so it was different people at different times and it's something we can build on moving forward" continued Wigness.