SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team (23-15, 3-5 Big South) led early in both games of doubleheader action at USC Upstate (24-14, 7-1 Big South) on Friday afternoon before faltering late in a pair of defeats

GAME ONE - Upstate 6, Gardner-Webb 1
In the early game, GWU grabbed its only run on a third inning sac fly. In an early pitcher's duel, sophomore second baseman Reese Collier gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a 1-0 lead with a sac fly to center field

That run gave senior pitcher Alli Stidham a platform to try and work on. Stidham was solid for Gardner-Webb, throwing 5.1 innings, allowing just three earned runs and six hits

Upstate did most of its damage in the bottom of the sixth. Ahead on Gardner-Webb 2-1 at this point, Upstate struck for four runs including three unearned. The Spartans started the sixth with an RBI double to the gap in left center but two GWU errors prolonged the frame, allowing Upstate to take a 6-1 lead. One error led directly to an Upstate run

Runners on base would end up being the story, as Gardner-Webb scored one run on 10 hits, leaving 10 runners on base

Eight different Runnin' Bulldogs recorded a hit, including senior first baseman Maggie Knight who went 2-for-4 and senior center fielder Annicka McLaughlin who finished the game 2-for-3

GAME TWO - Upstate 9, Gardner-Webb 8
Gardner-Webb quickly jumped on Upstate in the nightcap, taking an 7-2 lead through the first three innings

After struggling to move runners in the early game, GWU quickly flipped the switch with an RBI double by Collier and a sac fly by Knight putting the Dawgs up 2-0 in the first inning

After Upstate tied the game in the bottom of the first, Gardner-Webb answered again. This time, it was Collier finding her power to center field with a three-run home run in the top of the second. An infield single by senior shortstop Taylor Dreher helped on by an error, and a wild pitch allowed GWU to go up 7-2 after three

Upstate again clawed back but Knight came through with a big insurance run in the fourth, scoring senior right fielder Jailyn Tineo on an RBI single. Gardner-Webb took an 8-4 lead all the way to the sixth

The home-standing Spartans would complete a wild comeback in the seventh however, using a wild pitch, two doubles, two infield hits, and an error to score four runs and come from behind. The Runnin' Bulldogs fell by a final of 9-8

For the game, GWU posted eight runs on 11 hits, committed three errors, and left nine on base. Standout individuals include Tineo who was 1-for-2 with three walks and three runs scored, Collier who finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBIs, and senior catcher Caroline Johnson who was 2-for-3 with a run scored

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb meets USC Upstate again on Saturday at 4 pm, set to square off in front of a national television audience on ESPNU