BOX SCORE

Wingate, N.C.----The fifth-seeded Bulldogs of Wingate University notched their second victory of the day, holding off Newberry College 2-1 in the final game on day two of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament Friday afternoon at the WU Softball Complex. The Bulldogs improve to 35-14 on the season, and will meet Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at 11 a.m. Newberry falls to 31-13 overall.

Senior shortstop Debra Grijalva (San Jose, Calif.) was one-for-two with two RBI to spark the Wingate offense. Senior outfielder LaRonda McClain (Kings Mountain, N.C.) was one-for-three with a run scored for the Bulldogs. Junior right-hander Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) allowed only three hits in the complete-game victory.

Senior infielder Jessica Reid (Walhalla, S.C.) was two-for-three with an RBI to lead the Newberry attack. Senior catcher Tiffany Pigage (Lexington, S.C.) was one-for-two with a run scored for the scarlet-and-gray.

Newberry threatened in the top of the first, with runners on second and third with one out. A bunt from senior pitcher Amanda Huckestein (Port Charlotte, Fla.) was fielded by Wingate catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.), who threw to first. Sophomore Gina Ager (Columbia, Md.) was covering first, recorded the out, then threw home to Barrineau who tagged out junior outfielder Aissa Gatewood (North Charleston, S.C.) at the plate to end the inning.

The Bulldogs were able to score a pair of runs in their half of the first. McClain singled to lead off the inning, then stole second. She reached third on a fielder’s choice by freshman designated player Kasey Pendley (Marion, N.C.), who was also safe on the play, and went to second on an error. Grijalva followed by lining a single to center, plating both runs.

Newberry got on the board in the third when Pigage led off the inning with a walk, went to second on a sacrifice, then scored on an RBI single from Reid to make it 2-1.

That would be all of the scoring in the game. Newberry had two on with one out in the fifth, via a single and a Wingate error. The rally was once again halted by a double play, as Gatewood lined out to Wingate senior third baseman Leyila Myers (Marietta, Ga.), who threw to first in time for the inning-ending double play.

The scarlet-and-gray got the leadoff hitter on in the seventh inning via a hit batsman. Blankenship would induce a popout, register a strikeout, then end the game with another infield popout.

Blankenship improves to 19-8 on the season. She allowed one run on three hits in seven innings of work, striking out three while walking two. Huckestein took the loss, falling to 19-8 on the year. She allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in six innings of work, striking out three and walking two.

The Bulldogs and Bears will meet Saturday at 11 a.m. The winner of that game advances to take on the winner of Saturday’s Mars Hill vs. Carson-Newman game at 4 p.m. All of Saturday’s action will take place at the WU Softball Complex.