GAME ONE BOX      GAME TWO BOX

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University freshman right-hander Miranda Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) tossed 11 shutout innings, while junior outfielder Kelsey Maffucci (Rockledge, Fla.) had four hits, three RBI and three runs scored to lead the Bulldogs past the visiting Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College in an NCAA Division II softball doubleheader Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs won by scores of 3-0 and 8-0 to improve to 12-6 overall, while Belmont Abbey falls to 2-10 on the year.
 
Game One: Wingate 3, Belmont Abbey 0
 
Freshman infielder Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) was two-for-four with a double, triple and two runs scored to lead the Wingate offense. Maffucci drove in two runs, while junior first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) was one-for-two with an RBI.
 
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third, when the Bulldogs got on the board. Burrell ripped a one-out double to left center, then went to third on a wild pitch. She would score on a deep fly ball to center from Maffucci, making it 1-0.
 
Wingate added two more runs in the fifth. Burrell got it started with a triple down the right field line. She would score on Maffucci’s sacrifice fly. Freshman designated player Betsy Braswell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) followed with a double to right center. She would score on an RBI single from Loudermilt to give Wingate a 3-0 advantage.
 
That would be plenty for Paul, who notched her ninth win of the season. She went the distance, allowing three hits while striking out four and walking only one. Freshman left-hander Nikki Faust (Concord, N.C.) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.
 
Game Two: Wingate 8, Belmont Abbey 0 (six innings)
 
Maffucci went four-for-four with a double, triple, RBI and run scored to lead the attack in game two. Loudermilt went two-for-two with an RBI and a run scored, while sophomore outfielder Jordyn Setzer (Taylorsville, N.C.) had a triple and two RBI. Burrell added a hit and two runs scored for the Bulldogs.
 
Wingate got on the board early in game two, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Burrell led off the inning by drawing a walk, then went to second on Maffucci’s single. Braswell followed with a deep fly ball, which was dropped, allowing Burrell to score. An RBI fielder’s choice from senior catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) plated Maffucci to make it 2-0. An RBI single from Loudermilt drove home Braswell giving the ‘Dogs a three-run lead.
 
A pair of walks and an error allowed the Bulldogs to score another run in the third. A sacrifice fly from Setzer gave Wingate a 5-0 lead.
 
The Crusaders had their best chances to score in the fourth and fifth. In the fourth, junior infielder Carol-Anne Sherrill (Huntersville, N.C.) registered Belmont Abbey’s first hit of the game with two outs. Freshman Amber Faust (Concord, N.C.) followed with a double to center. Sherrill tried to score, but Maffucci got the ball back to the infield quickly, and Burrell’s relay throw was there in plenty of time to cut down the run at home, ending the inning.
 
The Crusaders loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs against Braswell. She got a strikeout, while a line drive off the bat of freshman infielder Shannon Arthur (Concord, N.C.) was juggled and then caught by Burrell at shortstop, who flipped the ball to second to complete the inning-ending double play.
 
Wingate added two more runs in the fifth to push the lead to seven. An RBI triple from Setzer started the scoring in the inning. She would score on a Belmont Abbey error to make it 7-0. The Bulldogs ended the game with a run in the sixth. Burrell started the inning with a single, then scored on Maffucci’s RBI triple down the right field line.
 
Paul got her second win of the day, improving to 10-5 on the year. She allowed two hits in four innings of work, striking out three without walking a batter. Junior left-hander Brittany Southard (Mauldin, S.C.) took the loss, falling to 0-2. She allowed three runs on two hits, facing five batters in her start.
 
Wingate returns to action Thursday, hosting Pfeiffer at 1 p.m. The Crusaders host Erskine Wednesday at 2 p.m.