Gardner-Webb Sweeps Softball in Doubleheader

Tuesday, March 10

Boiling Springs, N.C.

1 p.m.

Bucknell University

1-18

Gardner-Webb

19-8

Bucknell

Gardner-Webb

Photo by: Elayna Felder

3/10/2026 5:17:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Bucknell (1-19) kept pace with Big South powerhouse Gardner-Webb (20-8) for both games of Tuesday's doubleheader before the Runnin' Bulldogs ran away for a pair of 3-0 and 10-5 victories.

Game One Recap

Bucknell's pitching threw five scoreless innings but the one frame where Gardner-Webb struck for three runs proved decisive. Gardner-Webb's pitcher Alli Stidham held Bucknell to two hits and two free passes.

Sarah Zimmerman received the start for Bucknell and threw one of her best games of the season. She went five innings, allowed three runs (one earned), scattered two walks, and obtained a strikeout.

Neither team advanced a serious threat until the fourth inning. A hit by pitch on Zimmerman led off the inning. Reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week winner Barbara Jo Coppola laid down a sacrifice bunt and Brooke Popella grounded out advancing Zimmerman to third. Meadow Gambacurta's swinging strikeout ended the chance.

Gardner-Webb draw a walk with one out and the pinch runner advanced to third on a wild pitch and fly out. Zimmerman induced a pop-up for the final out.

The wall collapsed in the fifth inning via a flurry of sacrifice flies. Annicka McLaughlin and Lauren Spainhower hit bloop singles to start the affair. Lilly Deaton laid down a sacrifice bunt but reached safety when Nicole Lioumis' throw forced Gambacurta to jump. All Bulldogs were safe. Caitlin Colley lifted a sacrifice fly for the first run. Deaton promptly stole second. Reese Collier hit a deep fly ball to no-woman's land in left center. Shea Malone raced over and made an incredible diving catch. It proved a Pyrrhic grab. Two Runnin' Bulldogs raced around to score, while Malone adjusted back to her standing position.

The Bison only managed a walk over the next two innings and Gardner-Webb celebrated the 3-0 win.

Game Two Recap

Bucknell led 4-2 before the Bulldogs reengaged their dominant offense and scored eight unanswered runs en route to a 10-5 victory.

Avery Powers started in the circle for the Bison but could not collar GWU's hot offense, which entered Tuesday hitting a sizzling .363 as a team.

Gardner-Webb immediately jumped on Powers for two runs. The leadoff hitter, Colley, doubled off the wall and the next batter, Collier, slammed a home run off the hitting facility's wall in left field.

Bucknell tied the contest in the third inning. With one out, Speicher singled up the middle. Zimmerman's liner found a gap and kept rolling and rolling towards the wall. Speicher scored and Zimmerman wound up hugging third. Coppola hit an RBI grounder to score Zimmerman.

The Bison seized the advantage in the fourth inning. With two outs, Tori Kirkpatrick singled. Addison "Sonny" Taft, receiving a starting chance at third base, displayed that Bison power was equal to Bulldog strength by delivering a two-run homer off the hitting facility. The lead stood 4-2 Bucknell.

It disappeared as quickly as snow under a spring sun. Two straight singles and a walk loaded the bases and chased Powers from the circle. Zimmerman was tabbed to douse the flames. Once again, the Colley-Collier combo tormented the Bison. Both Bulldogs singled home two runners and Gardner-Webb led 6-4.

The Runnin' Bulldogs added two runs in the fifth inning. Once again, GWU led off with two singles. Zimmerman uncorked a wild pitch, which scored the first tally. Maggie Knight singled home the second run. Mea Consentino entered the circle and stabilized the situation.

GWU added two insurance runs in the sixth inning. Madden McMahan-Waters doubled and Taylor Dreher drove her in with a single after Malone overran the ball, allowing McMahan-Waters to score easily and plant Dreher at third. Addie Stem collected her first hit of 2026 with an RBI single, tallying Dreher. Payton Hale entered the circle and prevented further scoring.

Bucknell added a run in its at-bats for a morale boost. Speicher singled up the middle and scored on Coppola's RBI double.

Up Next

The Orange & Blue complete the spring break road trip tomorrow with a doubleheader at Furman.