Orangeburg, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb softball team saw their bats come alive on Wednesday afternoon, as the Runnin' Bulldogs totaled 22 runs on 29 hits in the double header sweep of South Carolina State in Orangeburg, S.C.

GWU defeated the Lady Bulldogs 13-4 in game one and then shutout S.C. State 9-0 in game two, pushing their record to 12-14 overall on the season.

Game 1: Gardner-Webb 13, S.C. State 4

Gardner-Webb pushed across 11 runs in the top of the second en route to a 13-4 blowout win over the Lady Bulldogs in the first game of the non-conference double header on Wednesday afternoon.

The Runnin' Bulldogs blew the game open in the top of the second, plating 11 runs on 11 hits and two S.C. State errors to take a huge lead early in the contest.

Redshirt-sophomore Morgan Baker led off the inning with a single, which was immediately followed by an RBI double by sophomore catcher Elizabeth Williams which plated pitch runner Emily Bowman to put the Runnin' Bulldogs up 1-0 early.

A single by freshman Mariana Gallardo kept the inning alive, putting runners on second and third with no outs.  Senior Jane Savage then singled to drive in Williams to put GWU up 2-0.  After Savage swiped second, fellow outfielder Melinda Dulkowski laid down a bunt single to drive in Gallardo and put the score at 3-0. 

Lead-off hitter Samantha Meenaghan then singled to load the bases for, junior Jordyn Arrowood who singled for the seventh straight hit for the Runnin' Bulldogs, driving in Savage to put the visitors up 4-0.

With the bases loaded and no outs, freshman infielder Savannah Burns hit a fly ball to left field, which was dropped by the S.C. State left fielder, which allowed two more runs to score putting the Runnin' Bulldogs on top 6-0.

After a GWU strikeout for the first out of the inning, Baker, who started the inning with a single, doubled to drive in Arrowood.  Williams then singled for her second hit of the inning to put runners on first and third.  A ground ball to the pitcher proved to be out number two for the Lady Bulldogs, however, it did not stop the GWU offense, as Savage and Dulkowski put together back-to-back RBI singles to put Gardner-Webb up 9-0.

A S.C. State throwing error later on in the inning gave the Runnin' Bulldogs two more runs, as GWU took an 11-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning.

Gardner-Webb added two more runs in the top of the third by way of RBI singles by Gallardo and Savage, putting the visitors up 13-0.

S.C. State refused to quit, as the Lady Bulldogs scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning, highlighted by a two-run double by LaTavi Riley, to put the score at 13-4 heading into the fourth inning.

GWU would hold on to the nine run lead over the next two innings, giving them the 13-4 five-inning win over the Lady Bulldogs of S.C. State.

Freshman Kellie Beres (2-0) recorded the win, as she was effective out of the bullpen, giving up only one hit, while striking out four over 2.2 innings of relief work in the five-inning contest.

The loss went to Vianne Gomez (6-11), who allowed eight runs, six of which were earned, on eight hits over 1.1 innings of work.

Savage led the Runnin' Bulldogs at the plate, as she was 4-4 with three RBI, two runs and a stolen base, while Williams was 2-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.  Baker was 2-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, while Burns was 2-4 with two RBI and two run scored.

For S.C. State offensively, Riley was 1-3 with a double and two RBI, while Taylor Harris was 2-2 with a run scored.

Game 2: Gardner-Webb 9, S.C. State 0

In game two, the Runnin' Bulldogs scored runs in four different innings, while redshirt-senior pitcher Cindy Boomhower held the S.C. State Lady Bulldogs off the scoreboard in a 9-0 six-inning win.

GWU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first, as Meenaghan singled and then advanced to third on a stolen base and sacrifice bunt.  Bowman then recorded a bunt single to drive in Meenaghan and put the visitors in top 1-0.

Two batters later, Burns singled to short to score Bowman, which was immediately followed by a triple off the bat of senior McKenzie Morenus to plate Burns and put the score at 3-0 in favor of the Runnin' Bulldogs.

While Boomhower breezed through the S.C. State line up over the first four innings, allowing only two singles, the GWU offense provided some insurance runs, as Beres stole home in the third and drove in a run in the fourth to help push the Runnin' Bulldogs in front at 7-0 after four innings played.

The Runnin' Bulldogs put the game away with two more runs in the top of the sixth with the help of a S.C. State fielding error, as Boomhower shut down the Lady Bulldog offense in the 9-0 six-inning shutout win.

Boomhower (5-2) recorded the shutout win, her second of the season, as she allowed only two hits and one walk, while striking out six over six innings of work.

Gomez (6-12) again struggled against the GWU offense in game two, as she gave up nine runs, four of which were earned, over all six innings of the contest.

Bowman was 3-3 with three RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base, while Meenaghan was 2-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.  Beres (1-3), Burns (1-3), Arrowood (0-3) and Morenus (1-4) all had an RBI in the win.

Catcher Kelsey Grochow and third-baseman Mika Johnson each had a hit in the game for the Lady Bulldogs of S.C. State.

Gardner-Webb (12-14) will return home for the first time since late February next week, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will open up a five-game home stand against UNC Greensboro on Thursday, March 22nd, at Varsity Field.  The non-conference double header is slated for a 2 p.m. start time.

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