Salisbury, N.C.----The Catawba College Indians swept a doubleheader against the 24th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs in South Atlantic Conference softball action Wednesday afternoon. Catawba won by scores of 8-4 and 4-1 to improve to 26-13 overall and 3-3 in the SAC. The Bulldogs fall to 26-8 on the season and 3-5 in the conference.

Game #1: Catawba 8, Wingate 4       BOX SCORE

Senior infielder Allie Marshall (Pleasant Garden, N.C.) led the Catawba offense, going two-for-four with a double and four RBI. Senior infielder Kathryn Geouge (Canton, N.C.) was two-for-four with two RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases for the Indians, while freshman outfielder Amanda Terry (Cordova, N.C.) was two-for-three with a pair of RBI.

Senior outfielder LaRonda McClain (Kings Mountain, N.C.) went three-for-three with a run scored to lead the Wingate offense. Junior outfielder Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) was two-for-three with a double and an RBI, while sophomore catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) was one-for-three with an RBI.

The Bulldogs struck first, scoring in the first inning as McClain led off the game with a single, then scored on an RBI single from Barrineau.

An RBI single from Chavis made it 2-0 in the second. Senior shortstop Debra Grijalva (San Jose, Calif.) followed by drawing a bases loaded walk to push the Wingate lead to three.

Catawba closed the gap to one in the third, scoring the first run when Geouge reached on an RBI fielder’s choice. She would come around to score on a wild pitch to make it 3-2.

Catawba took the lead in the fifth, plating three runs. Marshall delivered a two-run double to put the Indians on top 4-3. Gibbs added an RBI single to give the hosts a two-run lead. Catawba added three more runs in the sixth, getting an RBI single from Geouge, followed by a two-run double from Marshall to make it 8-3.

The Bulldogs got one run in the top of the seventh, loading the bases for sophomore outfielder Joya Wortham (Creedmoor, N.C.), who reached on an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 8-4.

Sophomore Brittany Murray (Asheboro, N.C.) got the win, improving to 17-2 on the year. She allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits in seven innings of work, while striking out three. Junior right-hander Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) took the loss, falling to 14-4 on the season. She allowed eight runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, while striking out three.

Game #2: Catawba 4, Wingate 1       BOX SCORE

Marshall was two-for-three with a homer and three RBI to lead the Catawba offense in the second game. Freshman catcher Tara Gibbs (Waynesville, N.C.) added a homer for the Indians.

Junior infielder Gina Ager (Columbia, Md.) was one-for-two with a double and an RBI to lead the Wingate offense.

The Bulldogs once again struck first, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI double from Ager in the second.

Catawba tied the game in the third on a solo homer from Gibbs.

The Indians took the lead in the fifth on a three-run homer from Marshall to make it 4-1.

Freshman Kelsie Hudson (Mechanicsville, Va.) got the win, improving to 7-2 on the season. She allowed one run on five hits in seven innings of work, while striking out three. Junior right-hander Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) took the loss, falling to 12-4 on the season. She allowed four runs on five hits in six innings of work, striking out five.

The Bulldogs return to action Friday, hosting Lincoln Memorial at 12 p.m. The Wingate Sports Network will provide a pay-per-view video broadcast of the SAC doubleheader. Catawba is also in action Friday, traveling to Newberry for a 1 p.m. start.