Game one box score
Game two box score

ROCK HILL, SC-- The Winthrop Softball team won the pitcher's duel in game one but lost the second game 5-2 in a doubleheader against Gardner-Webb, Saturday afternoon at Terry Field.
 
The Eagles are now 15-29 on the year and 3-10 in Big South Conference play. The Runnin' Bulldogs improve to 19-23 overall and 5-7 in Big South Conference play.
 
Head Coach Mark Cooke said, “Both of our pitchers threw good, quality games today. Natalie Becker came through with the hit we needed to win the first game and did great on the mound. Give the credit to Gardner-Webb, they hit the ball hard in the second game and we didn't after the second inning.”
 
Gardner-Webb threatened early when Samantha Meenaghan reached on an error by Kathryn Eberlin and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Jordyn Arrowood to start the first game. Luckily for the Eagles, the pitcher, Chelsey Schoenfeldt, was able to get Meenaghan out after she fell between second and third base trying to advance on a ground ball from Savannah Burns. McKenzie Morenus grounded out to end the threat from the Runnin' Bulldogs in the first inning.
 
Winthrop had an early opportunity to score but couldn't seem to string hits together in the bottom of the first inning. Mckenzi Corn singled to right field to get the Eagles offense started with one out. Kristy Noble hit a foul ball that was dropped by the Runnin' Bulldogs first baseman, Morgan Baker and then drew a walk to put runners on first and second base for the heart of the Eagles lineup. Schoenfeldt popped out to the shortstop and Kelly Blea lined out to right field, stranding Corn in scoring position.
 
The Eagles made another defensive error in the second inning but were able to escape without any runs being scored. Morgan Baker got hit by the pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a ground ball to Noble at second base from Lindsea Hutchinson. Elizabeth Williams followed Hutchinson and reached on a throwing error by Alex White at third base. Eberlin was able to throw out the pinch runner, Mariana Gallardo, trying to score on the play. Schoenfeldt got Melinda Dulkoski to ground out to second base to preserve the shutout. 
 
Both teams struggled defensively in the first few innings of the first game but the pitchers managed to keep the game scoreless until the sixth inning.
 
Gardner-Webb threatened in the top of the sixth but Schoenfeldt and Becker combined to keep the scoreboard clean. Baker doubled to left field with one out to get the rally started for the Bulldogs. After Hutchinson singled to right field to advance Baker to third base, Schoenfeldt was replaced by Becker who came in and struck out Williams and forced the foul out from Jane Savage to end the inning.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Winthrop finally scored one run on three hits and an error. Noble singled to left field and advanced to second base on a single from Schoenfeldt. Blea reached on an error by the shortstop to load the bases for Becker. Becker hit a clutch single to left field to score pinch runner, Christine Dewitt, to put the Eagles in the lead 1-0.
Becker earned the win in relief as she allowed no runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Jessica Childers tossed a complete game allowing one unearned run on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts and is now 5-10 on the year.
 
The Eagles carried the momentum from the win in the first game to the second game. They scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning to give. White got the offense started with a single to left field and advanced to second base on a pinch hit single through the left side by Jenna Harbin. They both scored on a big triple from Eberlin down the right field line to put the Eagles in the lead 2-0.
 
Gardner-Webb didn't answer back until the sixth inning. They scored one run on one hit, one walk and a wild pitch from Becker. Meenaghan led off and reached on an infield single to White at third base. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Arrowood. Burns drew a walk and Meenaghan advanced to third on wild pitch to put runners on the corners with one out for Morenus. Morenus hit a ground ball to White that was slow enough to score Meenaghan from third. Baker then flied out to center field to end the inning, stranding Burns at third base.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs bats came alive in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead. Amanda Gomes singled up the middle and was replaced by Taylar Pridgen on the bases to start the inning. Hutchinson advanced Pridgen to second base with a sacrifice bunt and Dulkowski advanced her to third base with a single to left field. With the tying run on third, Meenaghan came through with a single to right field to score Pridgen and advance Dulkowski to second base. Dulkowski got to third base on a wild pitch from Becker and she and Meenaghan were able to score on a shot to the gap in left field by Williams that was dropped by Corn. Burns followed with a double to score Arrowood, who came back into the game for Williams to make the score 5-2. Morenus singled to right field but Burns was thrown out at home by Mel Andrea in right field to end the inning.
 
Down to their last chance, Eberlin and Teja Durante hit back to back singles with one out to give the Eagles an opportunity to force the game to extra innings but Chapman popped out and Corn grounded out to end the game.
Becker tossed a complete game, but suffered the loss as she falls to 9-13 after allowing two earned runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
Alyssa Gutierrez started for Gardner-Webb and allowed two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings. Cindy Boomhower earned the win in relief tossing 5.2 scoreless innings on four hits with two walks.
 
On the day, Chapman, Corn and Eberlin all had two hits. Eberlin also had the only two RBIs in the second game. Becker had the game winning RBI and won the first game on the mound for the Eagles.
 
Winthrop will be back in action Sunday, April 15^th at 2 p.m. for the last game of the series with Gardner-Webb.