Pembroke, N.C.----The Wingate University softball team swept a key NCAA Division II Southeast Region doubleheader over host UNC Pembroke Tuesday afternoon at LRA Softball Field on the UNCP campus. The Bulldogs won the first game 1-0 and the second game 6-3.

Wingate is the number 14 team in the NFCA/NCAA Division II top 25 poll. The Bulldogs are 21-3 overall, while the Braves are 19-12 overall. Wingate hosts Georgia College and State University Friday at 2:30 p.m. UNC Pembroke entertains Peach Belt Conference foe Columbus State University Thursday at 2 p.m.

“We played a quality opponent in Pembroke today,” Wingate head coach Michelle Caddigan says. “These (wins) are two great region wins. Brittany (Blankenship) and Allison (Smith) combined for two good pitching performances that we really did need. This is a great way to go into the weekend.”

Game #1
#14 Wingate 1, UNC Pembroke 0

For the second time this season, junior outfielder Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) provided all the offense with a solo home run while classmate Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) retired the final 16 UNC Pembroke batters for the win.

On March 1, Chavis hit a solo homer as Wingate beat Limestone 1-0. Against the Braves, Chavis hit a towering shot down the left field line with two outs in the fourth. It was her sixth of the season and 14th of her Bulldog career. Senior infielder Leyila Myers (Marietta, Ga.), sophomore outfielder Jessica Bowen (Charlotte, N.C.) and junior second baseman Gina Ager (Columbia, Md.) each had a hit for the visiting Bulldogs.

Blankenship twirled her fourth shutout of the season, improving to 11-2 overall for the 2010 campaign. The Braves had a runner in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but managed only one hit the rest of the game. Blankenship struck out five batters and induced thirteen ground ball outs. UNCP freshman hurler Alex Hartshorn (Tampa, Fla.) took the tough loss to fall to 9-3 overall on the season.

Game #2
#14 Wingate 6, UNC Pembroke 3

The Bulldogs went in order in the first, but turned things around in the second with three runs to take the early lead. With two on and two out, sophomore outfielder Joya Wortham (Creedmoor, N.C.) delivered a RBI single up the middle to score Chavis. An errant throw back into the infield allowed Myers to score as the ball found the Brave dugout. On the next pitch, Ager ripped the Jamie Burwell (Goldsboro, NC) offering back up the middle to score Wortham and give Wingate a 3-0 lead.

After each team plated a run, the Braves pulled within two after four complete innings. UNC Pembroke posted consecutive singles to start the inning against Wingate junior pitcher Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.). Burwell helped her own cause with a bloop single over third base to make the score 4-2.

After Pembroke cut Wingate’s lead to one after six, Myers gave the ‘Dogs much- needed insurance. The former Wheeler High standout hit a two-run shot over the right field wall to give the Bulldogs a 6-3 lead. The Braves had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but failed to tie the game.

Smith earned the complete game victory, improving her season record to 10-1 overall. The pre-season all-SAC selection allowed eight hits, three runs (two earned) and no walks. Burwell took her first loss of the 2010 season, falling to 3-1.

Wingate will be back in action on Friday as they return home for the first time in 18 days to battle the Bobcats of GCSU. The Wingate University Sports Network will provide a live pay-per-view video broadcast as well as in-game live statistics.

(Wingate University Director of Broadcasting Ryan Brown wrote this article. Brown is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Broadcast Journalism.)