BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Caitlin Colley singled to left-center field with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning as Gardner-Webb topped Longwood 3-2, at Brinkley Stadium on Saturday.
The Runnin' Bulldogs' extra-inning victory set up a must-win game for Longwood to qualify for the upcoming Big South tournament. That second game of the doubleheader was suspended in the bottom of the second inning, tied, 1-1, and will be resumed at 11 a.m., on Sunday.
Gardner-Webb loaded the bases in the ninth against Longwood right-hander Maggie Chapin with singles from Reese Collier and Alli Stidham, followed by a walk by Maggie Knight prior to the game-ending base hit.
Longwood (21-31, 7-9) put runners on second and third with one out in the top of the inning when Sophia Pisacano singled to third base and Sarah Terrell doubled to right center. Stidham, however, retired Brooke Bennett and Avery Miller to end the threat.
The teams failed to score in the eighth inning, each stranding one runner. Gardner-Webb left 10 runners on base in the game, while Longwood left nine.
Chapin started for Lancers, but issued three walks in the bottom of the first inning, forcing in the game's first run on a bases-loaded free pass to Madden McMahan-Waters with two out.
Morgan Strickland ended the inning, inducing a flyout to center field by Taylor Dreher, and proceeded to throw 5 1/3 more innings, scattering seven hits and one unearned run until Chapin re-entered with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Longwood tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the third as Kate Westmiller singled to left field with one out and stole second. After a strikeout, Miller singled to center field to plate Westmiller to pull her team level.
Gardner-Webb responded in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead, 2-1. Collier singled up the middle off of Strickland to begin the inning, followed by a Stidham single to left. Collier then advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt at second base from Bennett behind the plate.
Colley lifted a fly to center field that allowed Collier to come in for the lead.
Longwood again knotted the score, this time, 2-2, in the top of the fourth. Maggie Hiatt drew a walk and pinch runner Naleya Bridges was sacrificed to second by Ava Abromavage. Lauren Faulkner then singled up the middle to score Bridges.
Chapin (13-12) was saddled with the loss in 2 2/3 innings. She surrendered three hits, six walks and two earned runs with a pair of strikeouts. Stidham pitched all nine innings to improve to 13-6 on the year. She scattered 10 hits, one walk and two runs, fanning five.
Miller and Hiatt each collected two knocks to lead the Lancers' 10-hit offense. Collier went 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored for Gardner-Webb (28-22, 7-10).
