Aiken, S.C.----The 24th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs split a doubleheader at USC Aiken in NCAA Division II softball action Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs dropped game one 4-3 in 13 innings, while claiming a 5-3 victory in game two. Wingate is now 29-9 overall, while the Pacers move to 20-19 on the year.

Game #1 USC Aiken 4, Wingate 3 (13 innings)       BOX SCORE

Sophomore outfielder Jessica Bowen (Matthews, N.C.) went two-for-four with two RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Sophomore catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) and freshman first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) added two hits each, while senior shortstop Debra Grijalva (San Jose, Calif.) blasted a homer for the Bulldogs.

The game was scoreless until the fifth, when the Pacers plated three runs. The first run scored on an error, while freshman infielder Kelley King (Chesterfield, S.C.) followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. She would score on an RBI double from junior infielder Blair Warren (Darlington, S.C.) to push the lead to three.

The Bulldogs answered with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth. Grijalva got it started with a solo homer to get Wingate within two. Bowen would tie the game with a bases-loaded two-run single to make it 3-3.
The combined six runs would be all of the scoring until the bottom of the 13th. Senior infielder Kellie Hair (Aiken, S.C.) reached on a one-out single, then moved to second on a fielder’s choice. She would then score the game-winner when junior infielder Lauren Locklear (Charleston, S.C.) grounded out to first.

Senior Toni Flessate (Goose Creek, S.C.) got the win, improving to 12-7 overall on the year. She allowed one run on four hits in eight innings of work, while striking out five. Junior right-hander Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) took the tough loss, falling to 15-5 overall on the year. She allowed four runs (one earned) in 12 2/3 innings of work while striking out eight and not walking a batter.

Game #2: Wingate 5, USC Aiken 3       BOX SCORE

Senior infielder Leyila Myers (Marietta, Ga.) was one-for-three with two RBI to spark Wingate’s offense in game two. Junior outfielder Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) had a double and two runs scored for the Bulldogs, while Barrineau had an RBI and a run scored.

The Bulldogs got on the board quick, plating four runs in the first, taking advantage of four walks and a USC Aiken error. Barrineau got it started with an RBI single. Myers and Loudermilt followed with RBI walks, while Bowen drove home the fourth run with an RBI groundout.

The Pacers scored their first run on an RBI groundout in the fourth to make it 4-1. Wingate had the answer, getting an RBI single from Myers in the fifth to regain a four-run lead. USC Aiken cut the Wingate lead to two in the fifth, getting a two-run double from Warren to make it 5-3. Wingate junior right-hander Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) retired the final seven Aiken hitters in order to notch the win.

Smith improves to 14-4 overall on the year. She allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings of work, while striking out seven. Senior Kathleen Nichols (Orange City, Fla.) took the loss, falling to 2-9 overall on the season. She allowed four runs in one-third of an inning while walking four.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, traveling to St. Andrews Presbyterian College for a 2 p.m. start. USC Aiken hosts Augusta State University Saturday at 2 p.m.

(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.)