Saturday, April 25
BOILING SPRINGS, NC
11 AM
Gardner-Webb University
28-22, 0
3
vs
2
Longwood
21-31, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longwood | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
| Gardner-Webb | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
Walk-Off Single From Colley Delivers Wild Win Over Longwood, Final Game of Series Set to Resume on Sunday
April 25, 2026 | Softball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team (28-22, 7-10 Big South) pulled off one of its most dramatic wins of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating Longwood (21-31, 7-9 Big South) in a wild, nine inning contest
IMPORTANT SCHEDULE UPDATE
Due to persistent rain, the second game of the scheduled doubleheader between Gardner-Webb and Longwood was postponed in the second inning. This game will resume tomorrow at 11 am, Sunday, April 26th
GARDNER-WEBB 3, LONGWOOD 2
Gardner-Webb got off to an excellent start in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader, working four walks and a run in the first inning. Sophomore first baseman Madden McMahan-Waters walked in the game's first run to put GWU in front 1-0
Longwood tied the game in the top of the third, but the Runnin' Bulldogs quickly answered off the bat of third baseman Caitlin Colley. Colley hit a sac fly to left field, and thanks to some key base running from sophomore second baseman Reese Collier, put GWU back in front 2-1
Longwood again tied the game in the top of the fourth, this time at 2-2, the game's final run until extra innings
The Runnin' Bulldogs had a handful of key defensive plays in the game, perhaps none bigger than the top of the sixth. With the go-ahead run at second, senior left fielder Haley Yeary threw out a Longwood runner at home. A great tag across the plate by senior catcher Taylor Dreher kept the Lancers off the board
In the circle, senior right-hander Alli Stidham worked a gem but it wasn't without some impressive work to get out of jams. None was bigger than in the top of the ninth, when Stidham faced runners at second and third with just one out in a tie game. Stidham worked a pop up and a ground out to end the inning
Stidham was excellent for Gardner-Webb all afternoon, tossing 9.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, just two earned runs, and with five strikeouts. Stidham threw over 150 pitches for GWU in the marathon game
Back to back singles and a walk loaded the bases for Gardner-Webb in the bottom of the ninth. With a seeing-eye single to left center, Colley scored Collier to win the game for the Dawgs, 3-2. With the win, Gardner-Webb remains alive for the 2026 Big South Tournament
Notable performances from Gardner-Webb include Stidham who, on top of nine innings in the circle, was 3-for-4 at the plate, and Collier who was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Sophomore center fielder Lauren Spainhower was 2-for-4 at the plate as well
IMPORTANT SCHEDULE UPDATE
Due to persistent rain, the second game of the scheduled doubleheader between Gardner-Webb and Longwood was postponed in the second inning. This game will resume tomorrow at 11 am, Sunday, April 26th
GARDNER-WEBB 3, LONGWOOD 2
Gardner-Webb got off to an excellent start in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader, working four walks and a run in the first inning. Sophomore first baseman Madden McMahan-Waters walked in the game's first run to put GWU in front 1-0
Longwood tied the game in the top of the third, but the Runnin' Bulldogs quickly answered off the bat of third baseman Caitlin Colley. Colley hit a sac fly to left field, and thanks to some key base running from sophomore second baseman Reese Collier, put GWU back in front 2-1
Longwood again tied the game in the top of the fourth, this time at 2-2, the game's final run until extra innings
The Runnin' Bulldogs had a handful of key defensive plays in the game, perhaps none bigger than the top of the sixth. With the go-ahead run at second, senior left fielder Haley Yeary threw out a Longwood runner at home. A great tag across the plate by senior catcher Taylor Dreher kept the Lancers off the board
In the circle, senior right-hander Alli Stidham worked a gem but it wasn't without some impressive work to get out of jams. None was bigger than in the top of the ninth, when Stidham faced runners at second and third with just one out in a tie game. Stidham worked a pop up and a ground out to end the inning
Stidham was excellent for Gardner-Webb all afternoon, tossing 9.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, just two earned runs, and with five strikeouts. Stidham threw over 150 pitches for GWU in the marathon game
Back to back singles and a walk loaded the bases for Gardner-Webb in the bottom of the ninth. With a seeing-eye single to left center, Colley scored Collier to win the game for the Dawgs, 3-2. With the win, Gardner-Webb remains alive for the 2026 Big South Tournament
Notable performances from Gardner-Webb include Stidham who, on top of nine innings in the circle, was 3-for-4 at the plate, and Collier who was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Sophomore center fielder Lauren Spainhower was 2-for-4 at the plate as well
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stidham, Alli (13-6)
L: Maggie Chapin (13-12)
Batting:
2B: Maggie Hiatt 1 ; Sarah Terrell 1
RBI: Avery Miller 1 ; Lauren Faulkner 1
SH: Ava Abromavage 1 ; Sarah Terrell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Naleya Bridges 1 ; Westmiller, Kate 1
SB: Ava Abromavage 1 ; Westmiller, Kate 1
HBP: Sophia Knock 1 ; Sophia Pisacano 1
Batting:
2B: Stidham, Alli 1
RBI: Colley, Caitlin 2 ; McMahan-Waters, Madden 1
SH: McLaughlin, Annicka 1
SF: Colley, Caitlin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Collier, Reese 3
CS: Deaton, Lilly 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
C/UTIL
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball No videos available.
