Game One Box Score       Game Two Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior pitchers Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) and Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) combined to pitch 15 innings without giving up an earned run and striking out 17 as the Bulldogs swept a doubleheader over the Crusaders of North Greenville University in NCAA Division II softball action Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs won by scores of 2-1 (eight innings) and 3-0 to improve to 15-1 overall and push their winning streak to 13. The Crusaders fall to 8-4 overall.

Game One: Wingate 2, North Greenville 1 (8 innings)

Blankenship went eight innings while allowing one unearned run on four hits and striking out nine, helping the Bulldogs to a 2-1, extra-inning victory. Freshman first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) drove home the game-winning run for the Bulldogs with two outs in the eighth.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the first on a two-out, RBI triple from senior shortstop Deb Grijalva (San Jose, Calif.).

The Crusaders tied the game in the second on an RBI single from senior infielder Tia LaFreniere (Brookline, N.H.), making it 1-1.

That would be all of the scoring in regulation. The Crusaders had a runner placed on second base to start the eighth inning via the international tiebreaker rule. After a sacrifice, Blankenship retired the final two hitters on a pop out and groundout to keep the game tied.

The Bulldogs had Grijalva placed on second via the international tiebreaker rule. After the first two batters were retired, Loudermilt drove a single back up the middle and Grijalva scored the game-winner.

Blankenship improves to 7-1 on the season, while lowering her team-best ERA to 0.54. She now has 53 strikeouts on the season against only six walks. Freshman Laura Hopper (Ellenboro, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 0-1 on the year. She allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out 10.

Game Two: Wingate 3, North Greenville 0

Smith went the distance, allowing only five hits as the Bulldogs finished off the sweep. Senior outfielder LaRonda McClain (Kings Mountain, N.C.) went four-for-four with a run scored at the top of the Wingate lineup. Loudermilt went two-for-three while sophomore catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) was one-for-three with an RBI and a run scored.

The Bulldogs struck early again, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. Barrineau drove home McClain to get the scoring started. Barrineau then scored on an RBI single from sophomore designated player Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.).

Wingate added another run in the third on a two-out, two-run single from junior outfielder Jessica McCraw (Waxhaw, N.C.) to plate Loudermilt and make it 3-0.

Smith gave up five singles on the afternoon while striking out eight and walking only one, improving to 8-0 on the year. Junior Kristyn Smith (Walhalla, S.C.) took the loss, falling to 3-2 on the season. She allowed three runs on 10 hits in six innings of work while striking out two.

The Bulldogs return to action Monday, March 1, hosting Limestone College at 1 p.m. The Crusaders travel to Mars Hill Wednesday, March 3, for a 2 p.m. start.