Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  

Harrogate, Tenn.----Wingate University freshman right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the Bulldogs past the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial University in game one of a South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon. LMU held on for a 7-6 win in game two. Wingate moves to 15-10-1 overall and 1-1 in the SAC, while Lincoln Memorial moves to 16-9 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Game One: Wingate 1, Lincoln Memorial 0

Freshman catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, Tenn.) went one-for-three with an RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) was one-for-two with a run scored.

The Bulldogs did their damage in the first inning. Adams started the game with a single, then went to second on a sacrifice. She scored on Laskey’s two-out RBI single.

That would be all the offense Houser would need. LMU’s lone hit of the day came on a two-out single in the first. After allowing a leadoff walk in the second, Laskey retired the last 18 batters of the game.

Houser moves to 10-4 on the season. She struck out five and walked just one on the day. Samantha Smith took the loss, falling to 10-5. She allowed a run on three hits in seven innings of work, striking out five.

Game Two: Lincoln Memorial 7, Wingate 6

Amanda Snow was two-for-three with a double and three RBI to lead the LMU attack in game two. Sarah Walz, Ashley Hanes and Danae Reed each went two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored for the Railsplitters.

Sophomore shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) was three-for-four with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored to lead the Wingate offense. Senior first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double, RBI and run scored, while senior outfielder Kelsey Maffucci (Rockledge, Fla.) was two-for-three with two runs scored.

Loudermilt’s RBI double in the first plated Maffucci to give Wingate an early 1-0 lead.

LMU answered with six in the second to take a five-run lead. The first run scored on a wild pitch, while back-to-back RBI doubles from Hanes and Reed made it 3-1. Snow added a two-run single, while a single from Walz made it 6-1.

Wingate plated a pair of runs in the fourth to get to within two. Burrell started the frame with a double, then scored on an RBI double from junior infielder Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.). An RBI groundout from sophomore infielder Brittany Owens (Greenville, N.C.) plated Whitley to make it 6-3.

LMU pushed the lead back to four on another RBI double from Snow in the bottom of the fourth.

Burrell lined an RBI double down the right field line in the fifth to get the Bulldogs back to within three.

Wingate plated a pair of runs in the seventh. Singles from Maffucci and Loudermilt, along with a walk to Laskey loaded the bases with one out. Burrell ripped a single to right center to make it a one-run game. Wingate had two chances to tie it, with the tying run on second, but a pair of groundouts ended the game.

Smith got the win for LMU, improving to 11-5. She allowed five runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out one. Sophomore right-hander Miranda Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) took the loss, falling to 5-6. She allowed four runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings, striking out one.

Wingate returns to action Wednesday, traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.