Harrogate, Tenn.----Wingate University and Lincoln Memorial University split a South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Neely Field. The visiting Bulldogs won the first game 9-0 in six innings. LMU rallied to take a 5-3 victory in the nightcap.
Wingate is 23-12 overall and 4-6 in the SAC. Lincoln Memorial is 22-17 overall and 3-7 in the SAC. The Bulldogs visit SAC newcomer Anderson (S.C.) University Wednesday at 3 p.m. The LMU Railsplitters host Brevard College Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Game #1
Wingate 9, Lincoln Memorial 0 (six innings)
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with two runs (with two outs) in the top of the first inning. With one out, freshman outfielder
Jordyn Setzer (Taylorsville, N.C.) and senior third baseman
Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) walked to put runners on first and second. Junior catcher
Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) singled to load the bases. One out later, freshman outfielder
Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) reached on an error as Setzer and Chavis scored.
Wingate doubled its lead with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Senior infielder
Gina Ager (Columbia, Md.) singled to start the frame. Sophomore outfielder
Kasey Pendley (Marion, N.C.) sacrificed Ager to second and reached on an error. One batter later, Chavis stroked an RBI double through the left side to plate Ager and Pendley.
The visitors scored five runs with two outs in the top of the sixth inning to put an exclamation point on the first game. Wingate had five hits in the sixth inning; the big blow was a two-RBI single by Chavis. Pendley and Barrineau contributed RBI singles as well.
Barrineau was three-for-four with one RBI. Chavis was two-for-three with a double and four RBI. Four teammates had one hit each. LMU senior outfielder
Jackie Adams (Columbus, Ohio) was two-for-three for the Railsplitters.
Senior right-hander
Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) tossed a three-hit shutout to earn her 15th victory of the season. The Capital One Academic All-America® nominee struck out seven and walked only one. LMU freshman
Katie-Jo Gentry (Calhoun, Ga.) took the loss. In six innings, she surrendered nine runs (five earned) on nine hits. Gentry struck out four and walked five.
Game #2
Lincoln Memorial 5, Wingate 3
Game two started in a similar fashion to game one, as Wingate grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Setzer singled and scored on a Chavis double. Barrineau brought Chavis home with an RBI single.
LMU picked up a run with two outs in the bottom of the first. The Railsplitters received three walks to load the bases. Junior first baseman
Brittany Stuive (Portland, Texas) was hit by a pitch, scoring sophomore pitcher
Cierra Mudd (Washburn, Tenn.).
The Railsplitters scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead for good. The hosts loaded the bases with three singles. Freshman second baseman
Kristi Franz (Vandalia, Ohio) plated the first run with an RBI fielder’s choice. Junior shortstop
Meg Ryan (Hendersonville, Tenn.) followed with a triple to center field to score two runs.
The Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the fifth inning. Chavis reached on an error and moved to second on a wild pitch. She moved to third on a single by Barrineau. Chavis scored on an RBI single by junior shortstop
Maureen Sandidge (Venice, Fla.).
Lincoln Memorial added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman outfielder
Brianna Mulkey (Kettering, Ohio) walked and stole second base. She scored on an RBI triple by Adams.
Stuive was two-for-two with a run scored and an RBI for the victors. Seven teammates had one hit each. The triples by Ryan and Adams were their first three-baggers of the season. Barrineau led the Bulldogs with three hits in four tries. She posted one RBI.
Smith took the loss to fall to 15-5 overall on the season. In 4 1/3 innings, she allowed four earned runs on eight hits. Smith struck out three and walked three. LMU freshman
Taylor McGinnis (Powell, Tenn.) picked up her first career win as she hurled 3 1/3 innings in relief. She gave up one unearned run on five hits, striking out two and walking one. Gentry pitched 2 2/3 innings of hitless and scoreless relief to notch her second save of the season.
Wingate University softball statistics
http://www.wingatebulldogs.com/custompages/softball/2011/teamstat.htm
