Wingate, N.C.----The 24th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs swept a doubleheader over the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial University in South Atlantic Conference softball action Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs won by scores of 3-0 and 3-1 to improve to 28-8 overall and 5-5 in the SAC. LMU falls to 22-14 overall and 2-8 in the SAC. 

Game #1
Wingate 3, LMU 0       BOX SCORE

Sophomore right-hander Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) tossed a two-hit shutout while junior outfielder Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) went two-for-three with two RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs. Senior outfielder LaRonda McClain (Kings Mountain, N.C.) added a two-for-three day with two runs scored.

Wingate got on the board in the third when McClain singled, then came around to score on a two-out, RBI single from Chavis to make it 1-0. The Bulldogs added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth. Chavis plated McClain for the second time in game one with an RBI single. Chavis would score when senior shortstop Debra Grijalva (San Jose, Calif.) reached on an LMU error to put Wingate on top 3-0.

That would be plenty for Blankenship, who improved to 15-4 overall on the season. She struck out three while allowing only two hits in seven innings of work. Freshman Meghan LaFevor (Columbia, Tenn.) took the loss, falling to 13-7 overall. She allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits in five innings of work.

Game #2
Wingate 3, LMU 1       BOX SCORE 

Senior infielder Leyila Myers (Marietta, Ga.) went two-for-three with a homer, while Chavis added another two-for-three day with a double and run scored for the Bulldogs. Grijalva was one-for-three with a double, RBI and a run scored.

The Bulldogs struck early in game two, scoring two runs in the first inning, doing all of the damage with two outs. Chavis doubled to right center, then scored on an RBI double down the left field line from Grijalva. Grijalva scored on an RBI single from sophomore catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) to make it 2-0.

Lincoln Memorial got on the board in the sixth when junior infielder Ashley Knight (Palm Harbor, Fla.) scored on an RBI single from sophomore infielder Brittany Stuive (Portland, Texas), cutting Wingate’s lead to one.
The Bulldogs had the answer, as Myers drove the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth over the centerfield wall for her fifth homer of the year, putting Wingate on top 3-1.

Wingate junior right-hander Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) got the win, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings of work while striking out eight. She improves to 13-4 overall on the season. Freshman Cierra Mudd (Washburn, Tenn.) took the loss, falling to 7-6 overall on the season. She allowed two runs on six hits in two innings of work. 

The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday, traveling to USC Aiken for a 2 p.m. start. Wingate returns home April 14, hosting Newberry College at 2 p.m. The Newberry twin bill is Senior Day and Student-Athlete Appreciation Day at Wingate University. Lincoln Memorial is back in action Tuesday, traveling to Brevard College for a 2 p.m. start.

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)