GAME ONE BOX SCORE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs pounded it double-digit hits in each game, sweeping a doubleheader over the Queens University of Charlotte Royals in NCAA Division II softball action Wednesday afternoon at the WU Softball Complex. Wingate won game one 9-1 in six innings, while taking game two 7-1 to improve to 12-5 overall. The Royals fall to 11-13 on the season.
Game #1: Wingate 9, Queens 1 (six innings)
All nine Wingate starters got a hit, while seven of the nine scored and six drove in at least a run. Freshman Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) was two-for-four with a double, three RBI and a run scored to lead the Wingate offense. Senior infielder Gina Ager (Columbia, Md.) added a homer and two RBI, while junior catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) had two hits and an RBI. Freshman outfielder Jordyn Setzer (Taylorsville, N.C.) was two-for-three with an RBI and run scored.
Freshman outfielder Emma Schultz (Silver Spring, Md.) was two-for-three with an RBI to lead the Queens attack, while freshman catcher Emily Poulton (Temecula, Calif.) also went two-for-three for the Royals.
The ‘Dogs got on the board early, plating a run in the first via an RBI single from Barrineau. Wingate added to its lead in the third, scoring six runs. Sophomore first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) drew a bases-loaded walk to score the first run. Whitley followed with a bases-clearing three-run double to left center. Ager capped the scoring by blasting her second homer of the year, a two-run shot down the left field line to make it 7-0.
Queens scored its lone run in the fifth, taking advantage of a pair of Wingate errors and scoring on an RBI single from Schultz to cut the lead to six.
The Bulldogs got that run back in the fifth on an RBI single from Setzer. Wingate finished the game in the sixth, when senior pitcher Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) lined an RBI single to left center to make it 9-1, ending the game in six innings.
Senior right-hander Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) got the win, improving to 7-2 on the year. She allowed one unearned run on four hits in four innings of work, striking out four. Senior right-hander Brandy Jester (Georgetown, Del.) took the loss, falling to 7-10 on the year. She allowed nine runs on 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out five and walking five.
Game #2: Wingate 7, Queens 1
Junior infielder Maureen Sandidge (Venice, Fla.) went two-for-four with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored to spark the Wingate offense. Setzer went two-for-two with an RBI and run scored, while sophomore outfielder Kasey Pendley (Marion, N.C.) was two-for-three with two runs scored.
The Bulldogs once again got off to a quick start, scoring twice in the first inning. Pendley led off with a single, stole second, went to third on a sacrifice, then scored on an RBI double from Sandidge. Loudermilt drove home Sandidge with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
Blankenship led off the second inning with a single, then scored on an RBI single from Setzer to give Wingate a 3-0 lead. Queens got on the board in the third, when sophomore infielder Megan Lathbury (Georgetown, Del.) drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the lead to two.
The Bulldogs responded in the fourth, plating three runs. Sandidge did all of the damage, driving a three-run homer to left center, her third homer of the season, to give Wingate a 6-1 advantage. The ‘Dogs added one more run in the sixth, scoring on a Queens error to make it 7-1.
Freshman right-hander Ashley Brown (Murrells Inlet, S.C.) got the win in relief, improving to 3-2 on the year. She allowed one hit in 4 2/3 innings of work, striking out seven and not allowing a run, throwing 49 of her 66 pitches for strikes. Jester took the loss in game two for Queens, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in six innings of work, falling to 7-11.
The Bulldogs are back in action Friday, traveling to Georgia College for a 3 p.m. start. Queens takes on Catawba College Friday at 3 p.m.
