BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University softball team (16-19, 1-5 Big South) closed a three game Big South series with Winthrop on Saturday afternoon at Brinkley Stadium, splitting doubleheader action
GAME ONE - Gardner-Webb 7, Winthrop 2
In the early game, Gardner-Webb used a huge fifth inning to pull away, eventually picking up the win by a 7-2 final. In the fifth inning alone, the 'Dawgs scored five runs on six hits of the seven runs on eight hits total in the game.
After Winthrop took the lead in the top of the fifth, Gardner-Webb hit back for five runs in the fifth and seven unanswered. Junior
Alyssa Bonilla started the inning with a pinch hit two-RBI double, followed by senior right fielder
Jailyn Tineo who doubled the GWU to 3-1 on an RBI single on the infield. Junior catcher
Taylor Dreher broke the game open with a two-RBI triple towards the gap for a 5-1 lead.
Gardner-Webb added two more runs in the sixth for a 7-1 lead. Junior second baseman
Annicka McLaughlin reached on a throw wide of the bag at first base, eventually seeing two runs come across in the same sequence. Winthrop added a run back in the bottom of the inning, but freshman pitcher
Anna Hornbaker finished the job for her fifth win of the season.
Hornbaker tossed a complete 7.0 innings, allowing two earned runs while scattering eight hits and striking out three.
GAME TWO - Winthrop 4, Gardner-Webb 2
In the late game, a late rally wouldn't be enough in a narrow loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs
Winthrop started the game in a big way, with the Runnin' Bulldogs down 4-0 through two innings. The visiting Eagles got started with a three-run home run, and added on with a double towards the gap in left center.
Junior pitcher
Alli Stidham entered the circle in relief with the Runnin' Bulldogs down, and eventually finished the game. The Saginaw, Tx. native gave GWU a chance late after throwing 5.2 shutout innings, allowing only one hit.
At the plate, Gardner-Webb got both its runs in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore
Carmen McRae stepped in as a pinch hitter to drive home the first run, before Tineo added another RBI single to bring the score to 4-2. Both runs came across unearned after a fielding error on the Eagles kept the inning alive.
UP NEXT
Big South play continues on March 29th and 30th, as the Runnin' Bulldogs visit Longwood for a three-game set
