BOILING SPRINGS (March 30, 2016) – Gardner-Webb posted runs late in both games of a Wednesday doubleheader against North Carolina A&T at Brinkley Softball Stadium and the results were the same. The Runnin' Bulldogs defeated the Aggies 5-3 in both non-conference softball contests.
Sophomore Raven Gray and freshman Zadaisha Waddell drove in runs in the first game. Senior Alejandra Barcenas was 2-for-4 and senior Kimberly Brunson had two RBI in Game 2.
Waddell had a strong start for North Carolina A&T in the first game. She did not allow a single hit through four innings in the circle and pounded a home run in the second. However, a high-scoring fifth inning turned the tide for the Bulldogs.
Things fell apart for the Aggies with two outs in the fifth. The Bulldogs four consecutive two-out hits produced four runs, the last of which came from a two-run home run by Amanda Gomes to give the Bulldogs the lead at 5-1.
N.C. A&T tried to take away the Bulldog lead throughout the sixth and seventh innings. Barcenas doubled to right field in the sixth and scored on Raven Gray's RBI single to bring the Aggies to within three at 5-2. Left fielder Janika May reached base in the seventh on an error by Scarlett Harris at first and advanced to second. She moved to third on a passed ball and sprinted home on an error by catcher Rachel Cuminskey to cut the lead to 5-3.
Jillian Nobles kept the rally going with an infield single, but Dunlow struck out to end the game.
Waddell lost Game 1 to drop to 4-9 on the season. She struck out two and was hampered by two unearned runs over 4.2 innings pitched. Mackenzie Thompson (9-5) got the win for Gardner-Webb after pitching a complete-game six-hitter where she struck out six batters.
N.C. A&T, looking to rebound from a Game 1 loss, scored three runs in the first inning. Lorrin Turner was the first to get on base, hitting a double along the left field line. Bulldogs pitcher Summer Darnell eventually loaded the bases by hitting May with an 0-2 pitch for Nobles who singled up the middle for a 1-0 Aggies lead. A double by Kimberly Brunson scored two more runs to give the Aggies an early advantage at 3-0.
Gardner-Webb responded with one run in the first inning before tying the game in the third on a two-run RBI single by Scarlett Harris. The Bulldogs closed out the game late again, this time with two out in the sixth inning. Kaylee Wacaster double down the right field line to score Megan Champion to give GWU a 4-3 lead. Jill Blank followed with an RBI double to give the Bulldogs a two-run lead.
Similar to Game 2, the Aggies tried to rally late. N.C. A&T put the go-ahead at the plate in the seventh inning with Turner at second and Waddell at first after reaching on a single. But Mohagony Headen popped up to the pitcher to end the game. May (4-5) took the loss in the circle while Devyn Terry (2-4) got the win in relief.
N.C. A&T (13-16, 2-1 MEAC) returns to Lady Aggies Softball Complex this weekend for a three-game series against Bethune-Cookman. The MEAC series starts with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m., and concludes Sunday at noon. The Wildcats (5-24, 0-3 MEAC) travel to Greensboro after a week's rest following being swept by Savannah State.
