Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore first baseman Betsy Braswell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) had a pair of game-winning hits Monday afternoon, while freshman right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) picked up a pair of wins while going 10 innings without allowing an earned run as the Bulldogs swept a doubleheader over the visiting Braves of UNC Pembroke in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate won the first game 2-1 in eight innings, while winning 4-3 in game two to push its winning streak to seven games, improving to 10-2 overall. UNCP falls to 5-10 on the season.

Game One: Wingate 2, UNC Pembroke 1 (8 innings)

Braswell and sophomore infielder Brittany Owens (Greenville, N.C.) each had a hit and an RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Junior infielder Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) was one-for-three with a double, while Houser went one-for-two while also drawing a walk.

Taylor Cloninger went two-for-three with a double and an RBI to lead the UNCP attack in game one.

After two scoreless innings, the Braves got on the board in the third. Sequoia Barrett reached via a two-base error. She would score on an RBI single from Cloninger to make it 1-0.

That would be all of the scoring until the seventh. With one out, Whitley ripped a double down the left field line. After a lineout, Owens came to the plate with the Bulldogs down to their last out. The sophomore came through with an RBI single, plating pinch runner Kaity Schultz (Pittsfield, Ill.) to send the game to extra innings.

Houser kept the Braves off the board in the top of the eighth, getting a strikeout and two groundouts. In the bottom of the frame, senior outfielder Kasey Pendley (Marion, N.C.) was placed on second base via international tiebreaker. She went to third on a sacrifice from freshman outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.). After a one-out walk, Braswell came to the plate with runners on the corner. She lined one over the head of the third baseman, driving home the winning run.

Houser got the win, improving to 4-3 on the year. She went all eight innings without allowing an earned run, striking out five without walking a batter while allowing five hits. Natalie Klemann took the loss, falling to 3-3. She allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in 7 1/3 innings of work, striking out two and walking two.

Game Two: Wingate 4, UNC Pembroke 3

Braswell had a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack in the second game. Freshman catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) was three-for-three with an RBI, while Adams went two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) added a pair of hits for the Bulldogs.

Cloninger once again led the UNCP attack, going two-for-three with a double, homer and two RBI. Megan Hillard was one-for-two with a run scored, while Kaytee Wilson also had a hit and a run scored for the Braves.

UNC Pembroke once again got on the board first, plating a run in the third. Hillard led off the frame with a single, then went to second on a sacrifice. She scored on an RBI double from Cloninger to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.

Wingate answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Adams started the inning with a single, then went to second when Braswell drew a walk. Laskey drove her home with an RBI single to tie the game at one.

The Bulldogs plated another run in the fourth to take the lead. Owens and Pendley both reached on one-out errors, while an RBI single from Adams put Wingate on top 2-1.

The Braves had the answer, scoring twice in the sixth to regain the lead. Cloninger started the frame with a solo homer to right center to make it 2-2. Wilson followed with a single, then went to second on a single from Holly Berry. Wilson went to third on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Brea Hartley to put UNCP on top by one.

Wingate had the answer in the bottom of the sixth. Pendley started the frame by reaching on an error. After a sacrifice and a strikeout, Braswell came to the plate with two outs and the tying run on second. The preseason first team All-SAC selection crushed an 0-1 pitch over the fence in center, putting Wingate on top 4-3.

Houser set down the Braves in the seventh to earn her second win of the day. She notched her fifth win of the season, tossing the final two innings without allowing a run while striking out two. Starr Gilley took the loss, falling to 2-4. She allowed four runs (one earned) on nine hits in six innings of work, striking out eight while walking four.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, hosting Mount Olive at 1 p.m. UNC Pembroke travels to St. Andrews Wednesday at 1 p.m.