CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University softball team lost both of its games to Gardner-Webb Tuesday, April 8 at the CCU Softball Field. The Lady Chanticleers fell 5-3 in the first game and then had a seventh-inning rally come up short in the second game as they lost 4-3.

Gardner-Webb's Kelly Linsley started the first game with a single to center field, but Melody Harrell hit into a fielder's choice to sophomore third baseman Alicia Irwin (Salina, Kan./Salina South) that got Linsley out at second. Jessi Williams singled to sophomore Mecaela Ballard (Groves, Texas/Port Neches Groves (Galveston JC)) in left field and Harrell attempted to reach home, but Ballard relayed the ball to sophomore shortstop Laicole Walker (Wichita, Kan./Wichita Collegiate School), who in turn threw it to freshman catcher Ashley Pisone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) in order to tagged Harrell out at the plate. However, Mandy Ward hit a two-run, two-out blast in the next at-bat that put the Bulldogs up 2-0 in the top of the first.

Coastal answered in the bottom of the first with a two-run inning of its own. With one out, senior Allison Cantrell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing) singled through the right side. Junior Verity Long-Droppert (Claremont, Australia/Shenton (Western Australia)) hit to left field to advance Cantrell to second, but both players got an extra base on a Gardner-Webb throwing error. Junior Kelsey Riffel (Wichita, Kan./Maize) had a two-out single to pitcher Cindy Boomhower that moved Long-Droppert to third and allowed Cantrell to score. As Riffel stole second, catcher Ward overthrew the ball and allowed Long-Droppert to score the game-tying run and even the game up 2-2.

However, Gardner-Webb broke the tie in the fourth. With two outs, Lindsay Cox reached based on a Coastal error and then eventually stole second. She then scored off a Linsley RBI single top make it a 3-2 game in favor of Gardner-Webb.

Gardner-Webb added to its lead in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs. Cox began the inning with a walk and then stole second. She reached third on a Linsley ground-out, but eventually scored on a wild pitch. Meanwhile, Jessi Williams had a two-out, solo shot to right field.

Coastal cut the deficit to two with a solo, lead-off home run by Cantrell to right field during the bottom half of the seventh, but that would be as close as the Lady Chants could get.

Boomhower had the win after throwing six innings and giving up eight hits, while Coastal scored two unearned runs. Taryn Beck had the saved after she threw the final inning, allowing one run on one hit. Freshman Ashley Pedersen (Fayetteville, Ga./Whitewater) had the loss in seven innings of work. She gave up five runs - four of which were earned - off six hits and struck out four.

In the second game, it was Coastal that got on the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the second inning. Riffel had a lead-off double to left center and then reached third on a freshman Michelle Evans (Upland, Calif./Upland) sacrifice bunt. Irwin hit a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Riffel to score and give CCU the 1-0 advantage.

However, Gardner-Webb used a three-run third inning to take the lead. Cox started the inning with a walk and then with one out, stole second. Harrell's single allowed Cox to move to third. Harrell stole second to put runners in scoring position. With two outs, Ward was intentionally walked and loaded up the bases, but Christa Fullwood had a walk in the next at-bat that allowed Cox to cross home plate and tie the game. A wild pitch  allowed Fullwood and Ward to move to second and third, respectively, while Harrell scored the go-ahead run. Haley Scism's RBI single up the middle drove in Ward to put the Bulldogs up 3-1.

The Lady Chants cut Gardner-Webb's lead down to one in the fourth inning. With one out, Birnbaum, Riffel and Pedersen all recorded consecutive walks and loaded up the bases. Irwin hit a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Birnbaum to score from third to make it a 3-2 game. However, Harrell gave Gardner-Webb another two-run lead with a lead off home run in the fifth inning.

Coastal began to comeback during the seventh. Irwin and sophomore Alyssa Tornatore (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) had back-to-back one-out singles. As Ballard grounded out, Tornatore reached second and Irwin moved to third. A wild pitch allowed Tornatore to safely reach third, while Irwin was safe in her attempt at home on a muffed throw by Beck to make it 4-3 still in favor of Gardner-Webb. However, the Lady Chants' rally fell short as Gardner-Webb recorded the final out it needed in the next at-bat.

Beck had the win as she threw the final 3.2 innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run as well as striking out four batter. Evans had the loss after she allowed three runs off four hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Coastal returns to action Wednesday, April 9 with a game against South Carolina. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the CCU Softball Field.