BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Junior Joirea Dumas drove in the only North Carolina Central University run in a 9-1 loss to host Gardner-Webb University in Friday's third game of the Red and Black Softball Tournament.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs scored their nine runs on 14 hits. Gardner-Webb (16-3) picked up its 10th consecutive victory.
 
Junior starting pitcher Brooke Perry paced the victors, tossing a complete-game with five strikeouts while also going 3-for-3 from the plate. From the pitcher's circle, Perry (7-2) took a no-hitter into the fifth on her way to the triumph. In the batter's box, Perry laced three straight singles.
 
A one-out double by sophomore Madison Mifsud down the right field line broke up Perry's no-hit bid in the top of the fifth.
 
NCCU's second double led to its lone run an inning later. Senior Tamiera Sanchez led off the sixth with her team-high fourth two-base hit and then scored on a single up the middle of the infield by Dumas, who leads the Eagles with nine RBI.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs were clinging to a 1-0 lead until exploding for six runs in the bottom of the fourth, which was highlighted by run-producing triples off the bats of junior Weslyn Almond and sophomore Autumn Owen.
 
NC Central (0-11) will continue play in the Red and Black Softball Tournament with two more games on Saturday and the event finale on Sunday.