Savannah, Ga.----The Wingate University Bulldogs notched a 7-5 win in the nightcap, handing 21st-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University its first loss of the year in NCAA Division II softball action Saturday afternoon. The Pirates won game one, and are now 5-1 on the season. Wingate is 3-3 on the year.

Game #1: AASU 3, Wingate 1

The Pirates took an early 1-0 lead in the first game on Ashley Buckett's two-out RBI double in the second inning.

Wingate junior shortstop Maureen Sandidge (Venice, Fla.) tied the game in the fourth with a solo homer.

The score remained tied at one until the Pirates plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Shelby Duff led off the inning with a double. A sacrifice moved Duff to third, and after a ground out, Whitney Galloway was hit by a pitch. After a Galloway steal of second, Heather Walker's two-out two-RBI double gave the Pirates the 3-1 lead.

Megan Barnwell got the win for the Pirates, improving to 3-0 on the year. She allowed only one hit in seven innings, striking out nine and walking two. Senior Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings of work, striking out six to fall to 1-2 on the year.

Game #2: Wingate 7, AASU 5

Senior infielder Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) was three-for-four with a double, three RBI and a run scored to lead the Wingate attack. Senior infielder Gina Ager (Columbia, Md.) was two-for-two with a homer and two runs scored, while Sandidge was two-for-three with a double, RBI and two runs scored.

The ‘Dogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Chavis delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing three-run double to center. Sophomore first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) followed with an RBI single to make it 4-0.

Keela Scott cut the lead to three in the second with a solo homer. Wingate regained a four-run lead on an RBI single from Sandidge in the fourth.

The Pirates cut the lead to two in the fourth when Scott ripped an RBI double, then scored on an error. Wingate added an insurance run in the sixth on an RBI single from freshman designated player Jessica Walsh (Columbia, S.C.) to make it 6-3.

Armstrong Atlantic State got two more runs in the sixth on a two-run homer from Baillie Temples to make it 6-5. The ‘Dogs got another run in the top of the seventh on a solo homer from Ager for the final 7-5 margin.

Senior right-hander Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) got the win, improving to 1-0 on the year. She allowed two earned runs on five hits in six innings of work, striking out two. Duff took the loss for the Pirates, allowing six runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings of work, falling to 1-1 on the year.

Wingate returns to action Tuesday, traveling to Limestone for a doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m. Armstrong Atlantic hosts Lincoln Memorial for a doubleheader Friday at 3 p.m.