Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score

The Basics
Score: Gardner-Webb 11, Western Carolina 3 (6); Gardner-Webb 13, Western Carolina 12
Records: Western Carolina 1-4, Gardner-Webb 7-4
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C. (Brinkley Stadium)

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- Western Carolina softball closed out the Runnin' Bulldog Softball Tournament with a pair of losses to host Gardner-Webb. The Runnin' Bulldogs took the first game 11-3 in six innings and completed the sweep of the Catamounts with a 13-12 win in game two.

Turning Point
Gardner-Webb used big innings in the first (four runs) and sixth (five runs) to take control of the game.

How it Happened
Western Carolina took the early lead scoring a run in the top of the first when Hunter Gibbons hit a two-out double and scored off an RBI double by Madison Armstrong. Gardner-Webb answered with four runs in the bottom of the first. The Catamounts cut the Runnin' Bulldog lead in half in the top of the third when Kayla Brewer led off with a single and scored when Gibbons hit an RBI single. Gardner-Webb closed out the final three innings of the game, scoring a run in the fourth and fifth and five in the sixth. The Catamounts did add a run in the top of the sixth when Ashlyn Long doubled and scored when Brewer hit an RBI single.

Inside the Box Score
- Freshman pitcher Hayley Brogden got the first start of her Catamount career falling to 0-1 going 4.2 innings allowing six runs on eight hits and striking out three.
- Armstrong and Gibbons each went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI in the game.
- The Catamounts had nine hits and gave up 13 to Gardner-Webb.
- Shaina Reed tossed 0.2 innings allowing five runs on five hits.

Turning Point
In a game in which Western Carolina battled and even led 12-11 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, it wasn't enough as Gardner-Webb tied the game and then WCU walked in the walk-off winning run for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

How it Happened
In a mirror of game one, Western Carolina took the early lead scoring a run in the first inning. With one out, Erica Hayes singled past second base and scored courtesy of an RBI double by Madison Armstrong. Gardner-Webb scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead and exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second. The Catamounts got three runs back in the top of the third. E. Hayes picked up her second hit of the game to lead off the third and moved all the way to third on back-to-back wild pitches. After Gibbons Armstrong hit a sacrifice fly scoring E. Hayes and picking up an RBI. Ashlyn Long hit her first homerun of the season -- a two-run shot that also scored Gibbons. Gardner-Webb would add two more runs in the bottom of the third. Western Carolina battled back within one run of Gardner-Webb with a huge fifth inning. Armstrong led off the fifth reaching first on a Runnin' Bulldog error. Long walked and Kaylie McNeil hit an RBI single scoring Armstrong. Reed hit her first homerun of the season to pull WCU within one, 9-8, with her three-run homerun. Gardner-Webb didn't waste any time pulling away from the Catamounts after their big top of the fifth as the Runnin' Bulldogs tacked on a run top push their lead two, 10-8. Western Carolina wasn't giving up as the team added a run in the top of the sixth when Gibbons doubled and scored off an RBI single by McNeil. Gardner-Webb pulled ahead by two again tacking on a run in the bottom of the sixth. The see-saw game continued when WCU re-took the lead with three runs in the top of the seventh to pull ahead 12-11. However, it wasn't enough to hold Gardner-Webb at bay as the Runnin' Bulldogs' tied the game at 12 and WCU walked in the winning walk-off run for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Inside the Box Score
- Western Carolina scored a season-high 12 runs in the game and also had a season-high 13 hits.
- E. Hayes and McNeil each had a pair of hits in the game. - Long went 3-for-4 with a homerun, two runs scored and three RBI.
- Gibbons scored three runs and also had a double.
- Reed had just one hit in the game but it was a big one - a two-run homerun.
- Kinsey Liscio got the start in the game going three innings in a no-decision. She gave up nine runs on seven hits.
- Lily Hayes relieved Liscio and takes the loss after 3.2 innings of work. She gave up four runs on four hits, struck out three. She was the pitcher of record and falls to 0-2 on the year.

News & Notes
- After hold a 6-0 record against the Gardner-Webb, Western Carolina lost back-to-back games to the Runnin' Bulldogs.
- Western Carolina had its first multiple homerun game of the season with a pair of homeruns in game two against Gardner-Webb.
- Western Carolina opens the season 1-3.
- Gibbons now has 21 doubles in her career moving her into a tie for 10th place in the WCU record books for doubles in a career.
- Gibbons is also climbing up the WCU career RBI record list. She currently has 78 RBI in her career and is tied for ninth place. There are two former Catamounts tied for seventh place at 80 and Gibbons needs four to take over that spot.

Up Next
Western Carolina returns to action Friday, Feb. 23, when the team travels to Jacksonville, Fla. to participate in the Green and Gold Classic hosted by Jacksonville. WCU opens the tournament facing UCF at noon.

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