Wingate, N.C.---The Wingate University Bulldogs overcame an early 3-0 deficit, rallying for a 5-3 victory over Carson-Newman College in game one of Sunday’s South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader. The Eagles won the second game 8-2. The Bulldogs move to 30-13 overall and 11-7 in the SAC. Carson-Newman is 36-13-1 overall and 14-4 in the conference.
Game #1: Wingate 5, Carson-Newman 3
Junior catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) was two-for-four with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored to lead the Wingate offense. Junior infielder Maureen Sandidge (Venice, Fla.) and sophomore first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) each went two-for-four with a pair of RBI for the Bulldogs.
Junior outfielder Kim Whaley (Maryville, Tenn.) was two-for-four with two RBI to lead the Carson-Newman attack. Sophomore catcher Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) was four-for-four with a run scored, while senior infielder Amber Hewitt (Ringgold, Ga.) went two-for-three with a run scored.
The Eagles jumped out to a quick lead, scoring three runs in the first. Junior pitcher Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) got the scoring started with an RBI single. Whaley added a two-run single to make it 3-0.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the third. Barrineau lined a double to right center, then scored on a two-out RBI single from Loudermilt to make it 3-1.
Wingate scored two more in the fourth to tie it. Barrineau lined an RBI double to right center to make it a one-run game. Sandidge followed with an RBI double of her own to make it 3-3.
The Bulldogs took their only lead of the day in the sixth. Chavis reached on an error, while Barrineau followed with a walk to put two on with two outs for Sandidge. She delivered with an RBI single up the middle to put Wingate on top. Loudermilt followed with an RBI single to give the ‘Dogs a two-run lead.
Senior right-hander Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) got the win, improving to 20-5 on the year. She did not allow a run in the final six innings, while allowing three on the day along with 12 hits. She struck out four in game one, throwing 160 pitches. Shealy took the loss, falling to 32-11. She allowed five runs on 11 hits in six innings of work, striking out two and walking five.
Game #2: Carson-Newman 8, Wingate 2
Shoemake had another four-for-four effort to spark the Carson-Newman attack, driving in two runs and scoring once. Senior outfielder Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.) went two-for-three with two RBI and two runs scored. Shealy added a homer for the Eagles, while Whaley went two-for-four with a run scored.
Barrineau and Sandidge each went two-for-four to lead the Wingate attack in the second game, while Sandidge drove in a run. Chavis was one-for-four with an RBI and a run scored.
The Eagles scored four runs in the second. Shealy started things with a solo homer to left, just inside the foul pole. An RBI single from Price made it 2-0. The third run scored on a wild pitch, while an RBI single from Shoemake made it 4-0. Price added another RBI single in the fourth to push the lead to five.
Wingate got on the board in the fourth when Chavis singled, then scored on an RBI single from Sandidge. Carson-Newman responded with three runs in the sixth to push the lead to seven. Shoemake started it with an RBI single, while the second run would score on an error. An RBI single from senior infielder Whitney Kee (Knoxville, Tenn.) made it 8-1.
Wingate pushed a run across in the seventh to make the final deficit 8-2. Sophomore outfielder Kasey Pendley (Marion, N.C.) led off the frame with a single, then scored on an RBI groundout from Chavis.
Shealy got the win in game two for Carson-Newman, improving to 33-11. She allowed two runs on eight hits in seven innings of work, striking out one. Senior right-hander Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) took the loss, falling to 4-4 on the year. She allowed four runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings of work, striking out two.
Both teams advance to the 2011 Food Lion SAC Tournament this week, which will take place on the campus of Carson-Newman College. Both teams will be in action Wednesday. The full schedule will be released Sunday evening.
