Saturday, April 11
Boiling Springs, N.C.
1:00 PM
Liberty University
15-25, 0
5
at
6
Gardner-Webb
16-20, 0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Liberty
0
0
0
0
3
0
2
5
7
1
Gardner-Webb
3
0
0
0
0
0
3
6
11
0
Bulldogs Steal Rubber Match from Flames
4/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Despite a two-run home run by J'nae Jefferson in the top of the seventh that put the Lady Flames ahead, 5-3, the Bulldogs stormed back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs to win the final game of a weekend series, 6-5.
The Bulldogs took an early lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Melody Harrell led off with a single to left field, and moved to second when Kelsey Witter bunted and reached first on the play.
First baseman Christa Fullwood then stepped up to the plate to belt a double down the left field line, scoring Harrell, and putting runners on second and third with no outs.
Designated player Mandy Ward was the next Bulldogs batter, reaching on a fielder's choice with a grounder to short, and advancing to second on the throw, as Witter scored and Fullwood barreled across the plate after a throwing error by Liberty shortstop Kelly Strickland. After one complete, the Bulldogs led, 3-0.
The offense for both teams remained quiet until the top of the fifth, when Liberty put runners on second and third with no outs. After Amber DePasquale singled to center field, pinch hitter Bridgett Woods was hit by a pitch, and both runners advanced on a passed ball by Gardner-Webb pitcher Christine Murray. Danielle Howard then took advantage of the opportunity, slamming a single to right center field to bring in two runs and put Liberty back in the game.
Howard moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Keely McMillon, and scored on a single by Jefferson to tie the game.
The game stayed tied at 3-3 until the top of the seventh, when the Liberty offense took the lead.
Howard led off with a single to center field, and once again, McMillon bunted her to second. It was then Jefferson strode to the plate to belt her two-run homer over the center field fence, giving the Lady Flames a 5-3 lead.
With one out, Hendrix kept the rally going by tapping an infield single, and pinch hitter Allyson Hudson drew a walk. But the Lady Flames could not extend their lead, as the Gardner-Webb defense got out of the half-inning with no further damage done.
The Bulldogs came out strong in the bottom of the seventh, and were able to score three runs in their last at-bat. Ashley Whitlock led off with a single to right field, and pinch runner Jane Savage moved all the way to third on the next play when Melinda Dulkowski singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw. With no outs, Harrell hit a long sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Savage, and moving Dulkowski to third. Witter followed up with a single to right center, scoring Dulkowski to tie the game at 5-all.
The offensive surge continued as Fullwood singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw, as Witter moved to third. Liberty hurler Sarah Ellis intentionally walked Ward to load the bases, bringing up Morenus. The catcher singled down the left-field line to score Witter to win the game, 6-5.
Fullwood led the Bulldogs, batting 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Four other Gardner-Webb starters recorded RBIs.
The Lady Flames were led by Jefferson, who batted 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a run scored, and Howard, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Freshman Kara Buchanan (1-0) picked up her first collegiate win, scattering four hits in two complete innings. Starter Murray threw five complete, giving up three hits and striking out two batters.
Ellis (8-17) took the loss in the circle, giving up 11 hits and striking out seven batters in 6.1 innings of work.
The Bulldogs are now 16-20 overall and 5-7 in the Big South, while the Lady Flames drop to 15-25 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
Liberty is back in action Wednesday, hosting Virginia Tech in a doubleheader at Liberty Softball Field. Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
The Bulldogs took an early lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Melody Harrell led off with a single to left field, and moved to second when Kelsey Witter bunted and reached first on the play.
First baseman Christa Fullwood then stepped up to the plate to belt a double down the left field line, scoring Harrell, and putting runners on second and third with no outs.
Designated player Mandy Ward was the next Bulldogs batter, reaching on a fielder's choice with a grounder to short, and advancing to second on the throw, as Witter scored and Fullwood barreled across the plate after a throwing error by Liberty shortstop Kelly Strickland. After one complete, the Bulldogs led, 3-0.
The offense for both teams remained quiet until the top of the fifth, when Liberty put runners on second and third with no outs. After Amber DePasquale singled to center field, pinch hitter Bridgett Woods was hit by a pitch, and both runners advanced on a passed ball by Gardner-Webb pitcher Christine Murray. Danielle Howard then took advantage of the opportunity, slamming a single to right center field to bring in two runs and put Liberty back in the game.
Howard moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Keely McMillon, and scored on a single by Jefferson to tie the game.
The game stayed tied at 3-3 until the top of the seventh, when the Liberty offense took the lead.
Howard led off with a single to center field, and once again, McMillon bunted her to second. It was then Jefferson strode to the plate to belt her two-run homer over the center field fence, giving the Lady Flames a 5-3 lead.
With one out, Hendrix kept the rally going by tapping an infield single, and pinch hitter Allyson Hudson drew a walk. But the Lady Flames could not extend their lead, as the Gardner-Webb defense got out of the half-inning with no further damage done.
The Bulldogs came out strong in the bottom of the seventh, and were able to score three runs in their last at-bat. Ashley Whitlock led off with a single to right field, and pinch runner Jane Savage moved all the way to third on the next play when Melinda Dulkowski singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw. With no outs, Harrell hit a long sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Savage, and moving Dulkowski to third. Witter followed up with a single to right center, scoring Dulkowski to tie the game at 5-all.
The offensive surge continued as Fullwood singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw, as Witter moved to third. Liberty hurler Sarah Ellis intentionally walked Ward to load the bases, bringing up Morenus. The catcher singled down the left-field line to score Witter to win the game, 6-5.
Fullwood led the Bulldogs, batting 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Four other Gardner-Webb starters recorded RBIs.
The Lady Flames were led by Jefferson, who batted 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a run scored, and Howard, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Freshman Kara Buchanan (1-0) picked up her first collegiate win, scattering four hits in two complete innings. Starter Murray threw five complete, giving up three hits and striking out two batters.
Ellis (8-17) took the loss in the circle, giving up 11 hits and striking out seven batters in 6.1 innings of work.
The Bulldogs are now 16-20 overall and 5-7 in the Big South, while the Lady Flames drop to 15-25 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
Liberty is back in action Wednesday, hosting Virginia Tech in a doubleheader at Liberty Softball Field. Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BUCHANAN, Kara (1-0)
L: Ellis, Sarah (8-17)
Batting:
HR: Jefferson, J'nae 1
RBI: Howard, Danielle 2 ; Jefferson, J'nae 3
SH: DePasquale, Amber 1 ; McMillon, Keely 2
Base Running:
RUNS: DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Woods, Bridgett 1 ; Howard, Danielle 2 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1
CS: Jefferson, J'nae 1
HBP: Woods, Bridgett 1
Batting:
2B: FULLWOOD, Christa 1 ; WARD, Mandy 1
RBI: HARRELL, Melody 1 ; WITTER, Kelsey 1 ; FULLWOOD, Christa 1 ; WARD, Mandy 1 ; MORENUS, Mckenzie 1
SF: HARRELL, Melody 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HARRELL, Melody 1 ; WITTER, Kelsey 2 ; FULLWOOD, Christa 1 ; SAVAGE, Jane 1 ; DULKOWSKI, Melinda 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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