Gardner-Webb Hands Liberty 2-1 Loss

The Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, breaking a tie and setting up a 2-1 conference victory over the Lady Flames, Saturday afternoon, at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C. The game, the first of a doubleheader, began after the completion of Friday afternoon's suspended game, when the Lady Flames took the 5-1 win.

The Bulldogs tried to gain momentum early, making an offensive threat in the bottom of the first, but the Liberty defense came up with a big play to keep the game scoreless. Melody Harrell led off with a single up the middle to start things off.
Kelsey Witter came up next, and doubled deep to left, advancing to third on the throw, and Harrell's attempt to score was foiled as she was tagged out on the cutoff throw from shortstop Kelly Strickland. Witter stayed stranded on third as Christa Fullwood grounded out to short, and Mandy Ward popped up to short to end the inning.

Cassie Hendrix tried to get the Lady Flames offense going in the top of the third with one out, tapping a blooper that dropped into left center for a single. But she was forced out at second on the next play when Amber DePasquale reached on a fielder's choice with a grounder to shortstop.

Pitcher Christine Murray ended Liberty's at-bat by striking out Danielle Howard for the third out.
The Liberty offense recorded three base knocks, all to right field, in the fourth inning, bringing one run in to take a 1-0 lead. Designated player Ashley Bensinger led off with a single to right, and after the Bulldogs' defense recorded two outs, Keely McMillon tapped a base hit to right, moving Bensinger to second. Freshman Kaylee West then recorded a big hit when she singled, bringing Bensinger home and moving McMillon to third to give the Lady Flames a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at 1-1. Witter led off with a short fly ball that dropped into left center for a single, and advanced to second when Ward grounded out to second with one out. McKenzie Morenus drove her in from second on a single to left, tying the score.

Hendrix led off the top of the fifth with an infield single, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by DePasquale. Danielle Howard drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. After designated player Ashley Bensinger flied out to left center, Beth Bennett walked to load the bases with two outs. But Liberty could not add runs to the board, as Strickland struck out to end the half-inning.

Gardner-Webb put a runner in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the fifth after Angie Walls walked, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Melinda Dulkowski. But leadoff batter Harrell fouled out to left field and the score remained tied going into the sixth.

The Bulldogs came back to the plate with a vengeance in the bottom of the sixth, scoring the go-ahead run. Fullwood led off with a double to center field that barely stayed in the ballpark, and scored on the next play when Ward singled to left center, putting Gardner-Webb up, 2-1.

The Lady Flames could not muster a hit in the top of the seventh, and the Bulldogs walked away with Game 1 of the day's doubleheader, 2-1.

Witter led the Bulldogs, batting 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Ward was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

West batted 1-for-3 and drove in the Lady Flames' only run of the game. McMillon and Hendrix both went 2-for-3.

Murray (8-13) picked up the win, as she scattered six hits in the circle for the Bulldogs, striking out eight batters.

Smith (7-8) took the loss, giving up six hits and striking out four batters in 5.1 innings of work.

With the victory, the Bulldogs improve to 15-20 overall and 4-7 in conference play, while the Lady Flames drop to 15-24 overall and 4-4 in the Big South.

The two squads will meet again this afternoon for the final game of the three-game series.

Schedule

Gardner-Webb Hands Liberty 2-1 Loss

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Team Stats

Keely McMillon

Cassie Hendrix

Ashley Bensinger

Kaylee West