Gardner-Webb Downs Liberty in Back-and-Forth, 10-8 Game
3/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Gardner-Webb scored three times in the bottom of the fifth, winning a back-and-forth game over the visiting Liberty Lady Flames, 10-8, on Sunday at Crest High School.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (7-13, 1-2 Big South) salvaged one win in the series against Liberty. Prior to Sunday's loss, Liberty (9-12, 2-1) had won four in a row, including a doubleheader sweep over Gardner-Webb, yesterday.
Liberty outhit Gardner-Webb, 11-8, but four Lady Flames' errors led to seven unearned runs by the Runnin' Bulldogs. The game featured two ties (4-4 and 7-7), and both teams registered two three-run innings.
Sophomore Summer Darnell (4-5) picked up the relief victory for the Runnin' Bulldogs, yielding one run on three hits in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Freshman starter Ashley Wark gave up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits with one strikeout and two walks in 3 2/3 innings or work.
Liberty redshirt sophomore Kenzie Friesen (2-3) sustained the setback, allowing three runs on one hit, while fanning one and walking three in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Starting pitcher, redshirt junior Chandler Ball, gave up seven unearned runs on seven hits with one walk in 2 2/3 frames.
Gardner-Webb senior Kellie Beres went 2-for-4 with a triple, three runs scored and four RBI, while sophomore Megan Gibbons batted 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Freshman Rachel Cumiskey went 1-for-4 with a grand slam home run.
Freshman Tori Zavodny batted 3-for-5 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored for Liberty. Senior Megan Robinson went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, while classmate Kelby Allen (1-for-3) scored twice. Freshman Madison Kotchey hit a two-run double.
The Lady Flames built a 3-0 lead during their first time at bat. Liberty loaded the bases with no outs to start the game, on bunt singles by Zavodny and a walk to Allen. Taylor plated Zavodny with a one-out single, and Kotchey drove in one run with a fielder's choice groundout. Junior Mickey Loveridge scored on a throwing error during Kotchey's at bat. A pair of groundouts ended the rally.
Gardner-Webb threatened in the bottom of the first, with Gibbons doubling, Cumiskey reaching on an error and redshirt junior Amanda Gomes singling to center. Ball left all three on when Burns flied to center.
Liberty added to its lead with a second-inning tally. Zavodny hit a one-out double and stole third. Robinson then hit an RBI single, making it 4-0. After Allen reached on an error, a sacrifice bunt sent runners to second and third, before an Alexia Taylor popout brought the inning to a close.
The Runnin' Bulldogs tied things up during the bottom of the second with a two-out grand slam by Cumiskey. Champion led off with a single, and Beres reached on an error. After a Gibbons single, Cumiskey went deep.
A pair of two-out errors opened the door for Gardner-Webb in the third. With two on, Beres hit a two-run triple, before Gibbons hit an RBI single for a 7-4 advantage. Friesen then entered the circle, getting Cumiskey to line out to second base.
The Lady Flames evened the score during the fourth. Zavodny hit a leadoff single, and Robinson reached on a walk. Zavodny then scored on an infield single by Allen. Loveridge followed with a sacrifice fly, and a two-out double by Kotchey made it 7-7. Darnell came on in relief of Wark to get the third out.
The hosts regained the lead by plating three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Megan Champion and senior Taylar Pridgen both walked, and Beres came through with a go-ahead two-run single. With Beres on third and one out, a Gibbons sacrifice fly increased the lead to 10-7.
Crisp jump-started a two-out rally with a double in the top of the seventh. Junior Kassidy McCoy then hit an RBI single, slicing the deficit to 10-8. Darnell then sealed the win, as Zavodny fouled out to end the game.
Liberty has concluded its first conference series of the year. The Lady Flames play their first regular-season games at the new Liberty Softball Stadium next weekend, hosting the eight-team Liberty Softball Classic.
Liberty opens the new stadium on Thursday at 5 p.m., taking on Rider. While hosting the tournament, the Lady Flames will also face Saint Francis (Pa.), Princeton, Quinnipiac and Toledo.
