Wingate, N.C.----- The Augusta State University softball team swept a doubleheader from the Bulldogs of Wingate University in NCAA Division II softball action Wednesday afternoon at the Wingate softball complex. The Jaguars shut out the Bulldogs 8-0 in game one, while game two went nine innings with ASU picking up a thrilling 3-2 victory. The Jags win their 15th straight win to improve to 21-5, while Wingate falls to 17-13.
 
Game One: Augusta State 8, Wingate 0
 
Augusta State senior pitcher Emily Headrick (Rock Face, Ga.) and Wingate freshman pitcher Miranda Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) both cruised through the first three innings without allowing a baserunner. Augusta State would break through during its second time through the lineup.
 
After consecutive singles and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second third with one out,  senior infielder Jessica Thornton (Blackshear, Ga.) blasted her fourth homer of the year on a 0-2 pitch to give the Jaguars a 3-0 lead. One inning later, Augusta State added to the lead thanks to a solo shot from freshman infielder Brooke Stephens (Gibson, Ga.).
 
The Jaguars would add two more runs each in the sixth and in the seventh to win game one 8-0. Senior catch Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) and sophomore Jordyn Setzer (Taylorsville, N.C.) each had a hit to lead Wingate.
 
Headrick went the distance for the Jaguars, striking out five with only one walk to improve to 9-2 on the year. Paul fell to 14-11, allowing five runs in five innings with five strikeouts.
 
Game Two: Augusta State 3, Wingate 2 (9 innings)
 
Augusta State once again struck first in game two, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning. With two outs and a runner on, junior outfielder Lauren Yeargan (Jesup, Ga.) went deep off Paul to straight-away centerfield.
 
Wingate would threaten in the fourth but come up empty. Sophomore infielder Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) and freshman infielder Brittany Owens (Greenville, N.C.) both came up with two-out singles. The Jags would go to the bullpen, bringing in freshman pitcher Heather Sexton (Madison, Ga.). After a walk, Sexton induced freshman infielder Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) into a groundout to end the bases-loaded threat.
 
Paul kept the Bulldogs in the game, as she worked around two bases loaded jams in the sixth and the seventh. In the sixth, Paul struck out Yeargan looking, while getting Thornton to fly out in the seventh.
 
Wingate came alive in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extras. Owens started the inning with her third hit of game two, then advanced to second on an error. Two batters later, Burrell delivered an RBI single to right center to plate Owens and cut the Jaguar lead to one. After a fly out, freshman designated player Betsy Braswell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) delivered a two-out triple to score Burrell and send the game to extras.
 
Paul shut down Augusta State in the top of the eighth while Sexton made it interesting in the bottom half of the inning against the Bulldog offense. Wingate loaded the bases but for the second time in game two, Sexton retired Burrell, this time with a strikeout.
 
Augusta State would take the lead in the ninth on a clutch two-out RBI single from senior shortstop Kacee Camp (Harlem, Ga.). The Jaguars would insert game one starter Headrick in the bottom half of the inning to try to close out the game. The Bulldogs would get two on with one out, but Headrick retired junior first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) and Barrineau to end the game and pick up her second save of the year.
 
Owens finished three-for-four to lead the Wingate offense. Braswell added two hits and an RBI. Sexton earned the victory in relief to improve to 5-1. Paul took the tough loss falling to 14-12 on the season. She pitched nine innings, allowing three runs, no walks, and five strikeouts. Wingate left 14 on base while Augusta State stranded 11 runners.
 
Wingate returns to conference play on Saturday, traveling to Jefferson City, Tenn. to take on Carson-Newman. The Bulldogs and Eagles begin the doubleheader at 1 p.m. The Jaguars will also jump back into conference play, hosting Columbus State on Friday.