BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Charleston Southern received another strong pitching performance from Morgan Dowdy on Saturday afternoon, but it was not enough for a fifth consecutive victory as Gardner-Webb prevailed, 3-1, in the first game of a doubleheader at Varsity Field.

Dowdy (15-11) allowed a second inning run, but kept Gardner-Webb (21-23, 7-7) off the scoreboard for the next five frames as CSU (27-20, 10-6) forced extra innings with an unearned marker in the fifth. The score would stay at 1-1 until the eighth, when Runnin' Bulldogs catcher McKenzie Morenus connected for a two-run home run over the left-center field fence.

The Bucs outhit the Runnin' Bulldogs, 8-5, but were unable to take advantage of several scoring opportunities against Jessica Childers and Cindy Boomhower (9-5), stranding 10 runners on base. CSU's only tally came in the fifth off Boomhower, when a pair of errors aided the Bucs' offensive efforts. Hayes Holdsworth stroked a leadoff single, but it was Kristin Kelleher who plated the run after reaching on a fielder's choice and advancing to second on a throwing error. Jessica Brock then followed with an infield single, and a second throwing miscue enabled Kelleher to come home.

Boomhower worked her way out of several jams to collect the victory despite allowing six hits and two walks over 5.1 shutout innings. Dowdy was saddled with the hard-luck loss after yielding the three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks, while striking out three over 7.2 frames.

Holdsworth notched her second two-hit contest in her last three starts, while Stephanie Sbardella also collected two base knocks to lead the way for CSU offensively.

Game two of the doubleheader is currently in progress, with Gardner-Webb on top, 5-1, in the fifth inning. The two clubs will wrap up the series Sunday in a scheduled 2 p.m. start.