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 2Â
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
