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Boiling
Springs, N.C. - GWU first-baseman Morgan Baker's two-run home run with two
outs in the bottom of the sixth lifted Gardner-Webb to a 2-0 win in the opener
of Wednesday's doubleheader with Charlotte, as the Runnin' Bulldogs played to a
non-conference twin tilt split at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
GWU, who suffered an 8-5 loss in the second game of the
doubleheader, moves to 18-22 with the split, while Charlotte moves to 20-19 on
the year.
Game 1: GWU 2,
Charlotte 0
Baker's blast was her third of the season, and drove in senior Lindsea
Hutchinson, who drew a two-out walk for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the bottom of
the sixth of a scoreless game.
Gardner-Webb starter Jessica Childers (5-8) pitched 6.0 shutout
innings and allowed just one single, before giving way to redshirt-senior Cindy
Boomhower for the final three outs. Childers fanned three batters in the game.
GWU sophomore Samantha Meenaghan snagged a blooper just over her
head at second base after a leadoff walk brought the tying run to the plate in
the top of the seventh, and doubled off Charlotte's Samantha Slade for a nice
double play in support of Boomhower.
Charlotte got a two-out double from Jackie Kleinsmith, but
Boomhower recovered with a groundball to end the game and record her third save
of the season.
Kleinsmith (1-for-3, 2B) and Lexi Betancourt (1-for-2) had
Charlotte's lone two hits.
Betancourt (12-9) took the mound loss for the 49ers, striking out
six and walking two.
Gardner-Webb collected five hits in the game, with Baker 2-for-3, with
a home run and two RBI. Meenaghan was 1-3, while senior catcher McKenzie Morenus (1-for-2) and Melinda Dulkowski (1-for-2) also had hits for the Runnin'
Bulldogs.
Game 2:
Charlotte 8, GWU 5
Charlotte plated five runs in the top of the sixth in the nightcap
of Wednesday's doubleheader to spark an 8-5 win over Gardner-Webb.
Charlotte jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top
of the second, but saw Gardner-Webb rally to tie the score with single runs in
the second and third. Freshman Amanda Gomes belted an RBI double down the line
to trim the lead to 2-1 in the second, and Morenus singled home Meenaghan in
the third for the tie.
The 49ers went on top 3-2 in the fourth, getting an RBI single
from Briana Gwaltney with two outs, but Gardner-Webb would surge on top with a
pair of runs in the fifth. Meenaghan led off the frame with a single and scored
when Savannah Burns fly ball to right was dropped. Burns advanced all the way
to third on the play, and scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Morgan Baker
for a 4-3 lead.
Charlotte's rally in the sixth included four hits, including RBI
knocks from Kalie Lang and Chelsea Lisikatos. Samantha Slade and Jessie Fennell
drove in runs with walks, as the 49ers drew four free passes in the frame. All
five runs came with two outs in the inning.
Gardner-Webb struck back with a run in the bottom of the sixth to
cut the lead to 8-5, but a play at the plate negated a potential sixth run to
keep the Charlotte lead at three runs.
The Runnin' Bulldogs got a runner on board in the bottom of the
seventh, but could not get any more runs across.
Charlotte starter Katie Watkins (7-10) went the distance for the
victory, striking out four and pitching around seven hits and five walks.
The 49ers collected 12 hits, with Lindsay Holloman (2-for-3),
Lisikatos (2-for-4, RBI) and Hayley Lewis (2-for-4) leading the way.
GWU's Childers (5-9) took the loss in 0.2 innings of relief,
allowing four runs on two hits and three walks. Alyssa Gutierrez (3.0 IP, 2
runs, 3K) and Boomhower (3.1 IP, 2 runs, 2K) also pitched for the Runnin'
Bulldogs.
Gardner-Webb had seven hits in the game, with seven different
batters collecting on each. Savannah Burns, Morenus, Baker and Gomes each drove in runs.
Gardner-Webb (18-22) will return to conference play this weekend,
as the Runnin' Bulldogs will travel to Rock Hill, S.C. to do battle with the
Lady Eagles of Winthrop. The two
teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and then the third and
final game on Sunday at 2 p.m.
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