BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team is back home for the first time in just shy of a month on the weekend of April 10th and 11th, hosting Presbyterian College in another crucial series in the Big South Conference race

SERIES INFORMATION
Presbyterian (15-25, 3-6 Big South) at Gardner-Webb (24-16, 4-5 Big South)
Game One: Friday, 5 pm - ESPN Plus
Game Two: Saturday, 1 pm - ESPN Plus
Game Three: Saturday, 3 pm - ESPN Plus

LAST TIME OUT: The Runnin' Bulldogs bounced back on Saturday, winning the finale game of last weekend's three-game series at USC Upstate, 4-1. This was ahead a mid-week loss at Appalachian State on Tuesday to wrap up nine consecutive away games

LAST SEASON: Gardner-Webb has won eight straight in the series dating back to 2023, including a sweep in Clinton last April. GWU exploded for a six runs in the top of the seventh in game two of last year's series, en route to a 10-5 win and eventual sweep

AT HER BEST: Sophomore right-hander Hannah Frye had one of her best games of the 2025 season last April at PC. Frye tossed a complete game, allowing only four hits, one run, and striking out three in a series opening victory for the Runnin' Bulldogs

PLAYER TO WATCH: Sophomore second baseman Reese Collier helped Gardner-Webb through a strong weekly schedule, hitting .429 across 14 at bats against Clemson and USC Upstate, with a .929 slugging, .438 on base percentage, with a pair of home runs, seven RBIs, six hits and four runs scored. Collier further went 6-for-12 at the plate in the USC Upstate series, with six RBIs and a home run in each of the final two games, including 3-for-4 with a first inning home run in a GWU win in the finale

KEY IN THE LINEUP: Senior designated player Alli Stidham is also key for GWU. Stidham tossed 15.2 innings last week against Clemson and USC Upstate, allowing eight earned runs and striking out eight. She threw the bulk 3.1 innings against Clemson, then fired off a complete game, one run, eight hit performance as GWU beat USC Upstate in the series finale on Saturday. Stidham also collected five hits at the plate as a two-way player, including going 3-for-3 against Clemson on Tuesday night

BIG BOPPERS: Gardner-Webb has rode the strength off its offense for most of the 2026 season. Senior first baseman Maggie Knight leads the team with a .422 batting average, joining senior shortstop Annicka McLaughlin who's hitting .417 with 48 hits this season, and Collier at a .410 average as GWU's core above .400 group. The trio combines to hold three of the seven highest BA's in the Big South Conference

STANDINGS UPDATE: In the race for a top five finish and a spot in the Big South Conference Tournament, Gardner-Webb and PC enter the weekend separated by just a game. GWU sits fifth at 4-5 in the league, while Presbyterian is 3-6 and the first team out in sixth. Both teams are also chasing Longwood and Radford, who are tied for 3rd at 5-4 and face off in Farmville this weekend