BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The UWG softball team suffered its first defeat of the season in the final game of the Runnin' Bulldog Classic, dropping a 5-3, Saturday afternoon decision to Gardner-Webb.
West Georgia (3-1) scored in the first inning in every game over the weekend, and had leads in the fifth and sixth innings before Gardner-Webb (1-1) scored three in the sixth to earn their first win of the season.
To the surprise of noone, Blaire Bizette got the scoring started with her sixth RBI of the weekend, scoring Megan Waites on a sacrifice fly after Waites got on with a leadoff single.
Gardner-Webb then tagged UWG starter Calli Hardison for the first of four earned runs with a solo home run in the first. After a scoreless second for both teams, Zekylah Boyd ripped a triple down the right field line and then scored on a fielder's choice with Waites picking up the RBI.
That lead held until the fifth inning when Gardner-Webb scored on an error and three hits, tying the game at 2-2.
An Addison Sturdivant sac fly brought Makayla Register home after Register led off the frame with a double, giving the Wolves the late leas back, but the Runnin' Bulldogs responded with three runs in the sixth to give them a two-run cushion heading into the seventh.
Waites, who had three hits in the game to lead UWG's offense, led off the seventh with a single before the next three batters were retired to end the Wolves' chances.
UWG finished with seven hits total and made one error. Hardison pitched all six innings, and gave up four earned runs with 11 hits allowed.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- Waites now has 12 multi-hit games and recorded her third career three-hit game.
- Bizette hit .636 (7-for-11) for the week to lead the Wolves. Garrett (.500), Waites (.462), Sturdivant (.455), and Sims (.400) all hit over .400 on the weekend.
- Through 25 innings this season, the Wolves have a team ERA of 2.24.
NEXT UP
The Wolves say on the road next week, traveling to Mercer on Wednesday, February 12 for a 6 p.m. contest in Macon, Georgia.
