BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Sophomore shortstop Dalika Wallace collected three hits, including a home run, for visiting North Carolina Central University in a 10-2 and 17-5 non-conference doubleheader loss at Gardner-Webb University on Tuesday evening.
 
Wallace finished the day going 3-for-5 with a home run, double, walk, three RBI and two runs scored.
 
NCCU (6-10) next visits Western Carolina University on Thursday, March 22 in a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. Gardner-Webb collected 25 hits on the day to improve to 17-12.
 
GAME ONE: Gardner-Webb 10, N.C. Central 2 (6 innings)
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs broke a late 2-2 tie with seven runs in the fifth inning before an RBI-single by freshman Lauren Huffman in the sixth ended the contest. The first five GWU batters all reached base and scored in the decisive fifth-inning surge.
 
Junior Andrea Booth paced the Runnin' Bulldogs, going 3-for-3 with a home run and a stolen base from atop the order. Seven different GWU batters drove in runs with freshman Katie Prebble leading the way with a two-run single in the first to give the hosts an early 2-nil edge.
 
NCCU rallied in the third with its two runs. Junior Miriam Duen started the frame with a single and she eventually scored on an error. Sophomore Ava Dolan drove in senior Courtney Mirabella for the tying run on an RBI-fielder's choice.
 
Dolan had a single in the first to extend her hit streak to nine games. She walked in the nightcap, but did not record a hit to have the streak end one game shy of double digits.
 
All three of the Lady Eagles' hits were singles.
 
GAME TWO: Gardner-Webb 17, N.C. Central 5 (5 innings)
 
Gardner-Webb scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings to coast to the 12-run victory. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored 17 runs on 15 hits, seven walks and three hit batters.
 
A three-run homer by Prebble put the Runnin' Bulldogs ahead for good in the first. Prebble, who is tied for the national lead in home runs with 14, finished the contest with four RBI.
 
Senior Maddi Johnson had a massive game for the victors, going 2-for-2 with two walks and five RBI. She drove in three runs with a triple in the second, then knocked in another run with a double in the third before drawing a bases-loaded walk in the fourth to cap her productive performance.
 
Wallace launched her home run over the left field wall in the third to put the Lady Eagles on the board. Her three-run blast was her first homer of the season. Wallace added a double in the fourth and she scored for a second time on a two-run single off the bat of freshman Kaitlyn Macon to cap the scoring for the maroon and gray.
 
Junior Aleyah Evans scored twice for NCCU. Wallace and Duen were the Lady Eagles to hit safely in both ends of the double dip.