Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs swept a doubleheader over the visiting Patriots of Francis Marion University in NCAA Division II softball action Friday afternoon. Wingate won the first game 5-2, while prevailing 9-5 in game two. The Bulldogs have won five straight, improving to 8-2 on the season. The Patriots fall to 8-4 overall.

Game One: Wingate 5, Francis Marion 2

Junior infielder Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) was two-for-two with a homer, two RBI and two run scored to lead the Wingate offense. Sophomore infielder Brittany Owens (Greenville, N.C.) was also two-for-two, driving in a pair of runs. Sophomore first baseman Betsy Braswell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) added a homer for the Bulldogs.

Tristan Faile was two-for-three with a double and two RBI to lead the FMU attack. Taylor Luff was one-for-three with a run scored for the Patriots, while Kristie Hanewinckel also scored a run.

The Bulldogs got on the board first in the second, loading the bases via two walks and a hit batsman. Owens drove home the two runs by ripping one off the fence in left field.

The Patriots answered with two runs in the top of the third to tie it. An error and fielder’s choice put the first two runners on base. Faile lined a double to right center to plate both runs, making it 2-2.

The Bulldogs regained the lead in the bottom of the frame when Braswell led off the inning with her second homer of the year, a solo shot to left to make it 3-2.

Wingate added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. Freshman catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) led off the inning by reaching on an error. She came in to score when Whitley launched her first career homer, a two-run shot to left to make the final margin 5-2.

Freshman right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, improving to 3-2 on the year. She went the distance without allowing an earned run, striking out one while giving up six hits. Luff took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits in 5 1/3 innings of work, striking out seven to fall to 5-2 on the season.

Game Two: Wingate 9, Francis Marion 5

Senior outfielder Kelsey Maffucci (Rockledge, Fla.) had two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate attack in game two. Laskey added a double and two RBI, while Burrell homered for the Bulldogs. Owens was two-for-four with an RBI, while senior outfielder Kelsey Pendley (Marion, N.C.) and freshman outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) each scored two runs. Sophomore designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) went three-for-four with a double and two runs scored in her first start as a Bulldog.

Olivia Ferguson was three-for-four with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Francis Marion attack in game two. Luff went two-for-four with two run scored, while Hanewinckel was two-for-four with an RBI.

Wingate jumped out to a 5-0 lead, scoring a pair of runs in the opening inning. Adams started things with a leadoff triple, then scored on an RBI single from Maffucci. She would come around to score on an FMU error to make it 2-0.

The Bulldogs plated two more runs in the second. A sacrifice fly from Maffucci plated Pendley, while Braswell added an RBI single. Saliga started the third with a double, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.

The Patriots got on the board in the fourth via a sacrifice fly from Olivia Zielinski. Wingate pushed the lead back to five in the bottom of the frame when Burrell connected on her team-best fourth homer of the year, a solo shot to center to make it 6-1.

The Patriots cut the lead to two with a three-run fifth. Hanewinckel started it with an RBI single, while Ferguson added an RBI double. An RBI groundout from Carly Madigan made it 6-4.

The Bulldogs again had the answer, scoring twice in the bottom of the fifth to push the lead back to four. Pendley started the inning with a single, while Maffucci drew a one-out walk. They would both score when Laskey lined a two-run double to left center to make it 8-4. Saliga scored on an RBI single from Owens in the sixth to push the advantage back to five.

Sophomore right-hander Miranda Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) got the win, improving to 5-0 on the year. She allowed three earned runs on 10 hits in seven innings of work, striking out three. Danielle Payne took the loss, falling to 2-1. She allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits in two innings of work.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, hosting Mount Olive at 1 p.m. Wingate’s doubleheader on Saturday against UNC Pembroke has been postponed due to weather. A makeup will be announced shortly. Go to www.wingatebulldogs.com for any schedule announcements. Francis Marion hosts Belmont Abbey Sunday at 1 p.m.