BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University softball team (12-8) had no trouble with visiting NC Central on Tuesday night at Brinkley Stadium, with the Runnin' Bulldogs exploding for 30 runs across the 10 innings played and two games of doubleheader action, both resulting in Gardner-Webb victories 

GAME ONE - Gardner-Webb 9, NC Central 1 // 5 Innings
In the early game, Gardner-Webb surrendered an early run before hitting NC Central back for nine runs unanswered, capping the game off in style with a five inning victory

After going behind in the top of the second, freshman center fielder Lauren Spainhower got that run right back. The Knoxville, Tenn. native tied the game with an RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning, 1-1.

Junior shortstop Ella Christopher was in the middle of the action in the third and fourth innings, stealing third and scoring on a wild throw back across the diamond, then hitting a sac fly a little while. In between, senior designated player Jailyn Tineo also singled in a run down the line towards right, as Gardner-Webb led 6-1 through four.

To end the game, junior right fielder Emily Garcia clubbed a three-run home run over the wall in left center. She was mobbed by her teammates at the plate as Gardner-Webb finished a 9-1 win.

Freshman pitcher Hannah Frye completed all 5.0 innings in the circle for Gardner-Webb, allowing just two hits and one run, retiring 17 of the 19 batters she faced.

GAME TWO - Gardner-Webb 21, NC Central 1 // 5 Innings
Once again in the late game, Gardner-Webb would go behind early before exploding at the plate. This time, it was to the tune of 21 runs in a five inning win. Overall, the Runnin' Bulldogs plated seven runs in the third, four in the third inning, and a whopping 10 in the fourth to more than put the contest away. 

In the second, GWU got the scoring started with an RBI single off the bat of junior catcher Taylor Dreher. The 'Dawgs added another shortly after, as freshman shortstop Raigan Kelley tripled to right center to drive in Dreher.

Junior pinch hitter Alyssa Bonilla got in on the action in the second inning as well, stepping in and sending a through the right side to add two more runs. Gardner-Webb also added two more runs via sac fly, one each between the second and third. Kelley and Tineo both continued solid days at the plate to eventually push the Runnin' Bulldogs ahead 8-1.

The fourth inning saw a barrage of pinch hitters in a game already out of reach, with freshman Cora Levy and sophomore Carmen McRae putting RBI singles on the board. Senior Jamie Suppa also stepped to the plate twice in the inning, reaching on an error and scoring a run as GWU surged ahead even further.

Junior second baseman Annicka McLaughlin finished the scoring barrage with an RBI single with two outs to put Gardner-Webb up 21-1, adding to another at-bat earlier in the inning where she drove in Levy after reaching on an error.

Junior first baseman Bella Ligotti and junior pinch hitter Alli Stidham each added RBI doubles to the frame as well, two of what would be 16 hits for Gardner-Webb in the contest. Just in the fourth inning alone, Gardner-Webb put up 10 runs, collected six hits, reached via three errors, and sent 15 batters to the plate

In the circle, freshman pitcher Anna Hornbaker handled the first 4.0 innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run. Junior pitcher Kalyn Kyle closed out the game by striking out two in the final frame.

UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs are back in action on Friday in Greenville, S.C. to take part in the Furman Round Robin. GWU will face Youngstown State at 2:30 p.m. and hosts Furman at 5:00 p.m.