GAME ONE BOX       GAME TWO BOX

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs notched a pair of dramatic walk-off victories Thursday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader against the Falcons of Pfeiffer University in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate won the first game 1-0, while taking game two 3-2 to improve to 14-6 overall. The Falcons fall to 3-11 on the season.
 
Game One: Wingate 1, Pfeiffer 0
 
Freshman right-hander Miranda Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) tossed a complete game shutout, while Wingate scored the game’s lone run in the seventh. Wingate’s only hits in game one came from junior first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) and freshman infielder Brittany Owens (Greenville, N.C.).
 
Both teams had chances throughout the game. The Falcons loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first. Paul induced a grounder to second, and sophomore second baseman Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) got the out at home to keep Pfeiffer off the scoreboard. A flyout to center ended the first frame.
 
A walk, sacrifice and wild pitch put a runner on third with one out for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the frame. Pfeiffer starter Melanie Conklin (Wellington, Ohio) got a strikeout and popout to get out of the inning. Owens singled in the third, and was at second with one out, but Conklin once again got a strikeout and popout to get out of the inning.
 
Pfeiffer loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth. Paul struck out the next two hitters, while getting a groundout to end the inning. Wingate got a runner to second in the fifth with one out, but a pair of popouts ended it. The Falcons threatened again in the top of the seventh, getting a runner to third with two outs. Paul’s eighth strikeout of the game ended the inning, sending it to the bottom of the seventh.
 
Sophomore outfielder Jordyn Setzer (Taylorsville, N.C.) led off the inning with a walk. Senior outfielder Joya Wortham (Creedmoor, N.C.) followed by hitting a chopper to third. The Falcons tried to get the lead runner at second, but the throw sailed high and went all the way to the fence in right center, allowing Setzer to score the game-winning run.
 
Paul allowed seven hits while striking out eight to get her 11th win of the year. Conklin took the tough loss, allowing an unearned run on two hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking four to fall to 1-4 on the year.
 
Game Two: Wingate 3, Pfeiffer 2
 
Freshman designated player Betsy Braswell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) was two-for-two with an RBI to lead the Wingate offense in game two. Junior outfielder Kelsey Maffucci (Rockledge, Fla.) was one-for-three with a triple and two runs scored, while freshman infielder Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) was two-for-four with a run scored for the Bulldogs.
 
The Falcons got on the board early, plating a run in the first. Sophomore infielder Celia Dew (Sanford, N.C.) walked to start the game, went to third via a sacrifice and single, then scored on a sacrifice fly from senior catcher Mikaela Strickland (Bonifay, Fla.).
 
Wingate tied it with a run in the bottom of the first. Loudermilt ripped a two-out RBI single to right, plating Maffucci to make it 1-1.
 
Pfeiffer regained the lead in the third. Senior outfielder Andrea Wagner (Wauseon, Ohio) started the inning with a double, then scored on an RBI double from freshman infielder Ashlee Ellen (Jacksonville, Fla.) to make it 2-1.
 
The Bulldogs tied it in the fifth, when Burrell started the inning with a double, then scored on an RBI fielder’s choice from senior catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.).
 
The game was still tied in the bottom of the seventh. The first two Bulldogs were retired, bringing Maffucci to the plate with two outs and nobody on base. Maffucci lined a triple down the right field line, bringing Braswell to the plate. She knocked a 2-2 pitch through the left side, giving the Bulldogs their second walk-off win of the day.
 
Paul got her second win of the afternoon, improving to 12-5 on the year. She allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings, striking out two. Junior infielder Shelby Brown (South Hill, Va.) took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of work, striking out two.
 
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, traveling to USC Aiken for a 1 p.m. start. The Falcons are back in action Sunday, taking on Mars Hill at 1 p.m.