Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University freshman catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) hit a pair of homers in game one for the Bulldogs, while senior outfielder Kasey Pendley (Marion, N.C.) belted a grand slam in game two to lead Wingate to a doubleheader sweep over visiting Mars Hill College in South Atlantic Conference softball action Saturday afternoon. Wingate won the first game 3-2, while winning 9-6 in game two to improve to 27-18-1 overall and 9-9 in the SAC. Wingate was at one point 1-7 in conference play this season, but won eight of its last 10 league games which included a pair of sweeps in the final week of SAC play. Mars Hill falls to 22-14 overall and 10-8 in the conference.

Game One: Wingate 3, Mars Hill 2

Laskey was two-for-three with two homers and three RBI to lead the Wingate attack in game one. Junior infielder Hayley Whitley was one-for-three with a run scored for the Bulldogs.

Shaundee Woosley had an RBI for the Lions, while Ashley McCurry and Robyn Stanek each scored a run for Mars Hill.

Mars Hill jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, without a hit. Three walks loaded the bases with one out, while a Wingate error plated the first run. Woosley would then draw a bases-loaded walk to put Mars Hill on top 2-0.

Wingate cut the lead in half in the second when Laskey connected on her fifth homer of the year, a solo shot down the left field line to make it 2-1.

That would be all of the scoring until the sixth. Whitley reached on a one-out single. After a strikeout, Laskey would come to the plate with two outs. She blasted her second homer of the day and sixth of the year over the fence in center to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.

Freshman right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, improving to 19-10. She allowed one earned run on three hits in seven innings of work, striking out seven and walking five. Taylor Morris took the loss, falling to 11-5. She allowed three runs on six hits in six innings of work, striking out two and walking one.

Game Two: Wingate 9, Mars Hill 6

Pendley had a grand slam to lead the Wingate offense, driving in four runs and scoring twice. Sophomore designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Senior outfielder Kelsey Maffucci (Rockledge, Fla.) was three-for-four with an RBI and a run scored, while Laskey went two-for-three with two runs scored.

Jamie Hockaday was two-for-four with a homer and three RBI to lead the Mars Hill offense. Stanek went two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored, while Brittany Gibson was one-for-four with two runs scored. Stephanie McGrath also had a pair of hits and a run scored for the Lions.

Wingate scored four runs in the bottom of the second to take an early lead. Whitley got it started with a single, while a pair of walks loaded the bases. After a flyout, Pendley would connect on her first homer as a Bulldog, a two-out grand slam over the fence in left to make it 4-0.

Mars Hill answered with three in the third to make it a one-run game. Hockaday provided the big blow, a three-run homer down the right field line to make it 4-3.

An RBI single from Saliga in the fourth put the ‘Dogs on top by two.

The Lions plated three runs in the sixth to take their first lead of game two. A double and infield single put runners on second and third with two outs. Both would score on a Wingate error to tie it at five. Stanek ripped an RBI double to center to give MHC a 6-5 advantage.

The Bulldogs responded with four in the bottom of the frame. Laskey started the frame with a single, then scored on Saliga’s RBI double to tie it at six. An RBI single from Maffucci put the ‘Dogs on top 7-6, while an RBI single from freshman outfielder Shannen Adams pushed the lead to two. Whitley capped the scoring on the day with a sacrifice fly, making the final margin 9-6.

Sophomore right-hander Miranda Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) got the win, improving to 8-8. She worked four innings in relief without allowing an earned run on six hits, striking out one. Taylor Hussey took the loss, falling to 10-6. She allowed nine runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of work, striking out two and walking three.

Wingate returns to action Sunday, traveling to Limestone for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs will open SAC Tournament play Thursday. The 2013 SAC Tournament will be hosted by Catawba College in Salisbury. The bracket will be announced later Saturday night.