BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University softball team closed out the home portion of its 2025 schedule on Saturday afternoon at Brinkley Stadium, falling in both games of a Big South doubleheader against USC Upstate

Game One - USC Upstate 8, Gardner-Webb 3
Looking to bounce back from Friday's defeat, the Runnin' Bulldogs got off to a dream start on Saturday afternoon, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

Freshman center fielder Lauren Spainhower began a bit of a hit parade with an RBI single to center, before graduate third baseman Araceli Pesqueira made it two with an infield single. With the bases loaded, Pesqueira reached on a sharp hit to first base that the visiting first basemen couldn't take to the bag in time.

With a five run top of the third, USC Upstate had responded for a 5-2 lead. The Runnin' Bulldogs didn't quit however, clawing back a run in the bottom of the fourth. Spainhower continued a solid day at the plate with a sac fly to left, allowing sophomore third baseman Carmen McRae to easily score, and make it a 5-3 contest.

The visiting Spartans added three more fifth to bring the game to its 8-3 final, while the Runnin' Bulldogs went down in order in the sixth and seventh to end the game.

Gardner-Webb finished with three runs on six hits, collected by six different players. In addition to McRae, Spainhower, and Pesqueira, junior catcher Taylor Dreher, junior designated player Alli Stidham and junior second baseman Annicka McLaughlin also added hits.

Game Two - USC Upstate 7, Gardner-Webb 3
GWU once again led early, and tried to rally late, before suffering a defeat in the late game to USC Upstate.

After the Spartans notched a solo home run in the top of the first, Gardner-Webb hit back with two in the bottom half of the inning. McRae grounded to short with two outs but a throw high and well into foul territory allowed senior right fielder Jailyn Tineo to score and tie the game at 1-1. Dreher tripled down the line in right to score McRae the very next at bat, giving the 'Dawgs a 2-1 lead.

The Spartans then scored the next six runs unanswered, taking a 7-2 lead they'd hold until the final half inning. In the bottom of the seventh, McRae was once again at the center, driving home a run via sac fly to bring the tally to 7-3. GWU loaded the bases with one out in the inning, using a walk by Tineo, a single from Pesqueira, a walk by Stidham, and an infield hit by junior center fielder Emily Garcia.

For game two, Gardner-Webb managed three runs on seven hits, by seven different players including Tineo, Spainhower, Garcia, Dreher, McLaughlin, Pesqueira and junior left fielder Maura Pendleton who finished the game 1-for-3 at the plate.

UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs visit Charleston Southern for a key, final Big South Conference series, scheduled for the weekend of April 26th and 27th