Box Score Salisbury, N.C.----The seventh-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs survived their second elimination game of the day, winning 6-1 over Mars Hill College on day three of the 2013 Food Lion SAC softball tournament Saturday afternoon. Wingate improves to 32-19-1 overall, advancing to take on the loser of the Catawba vs. Lenoir-Rhyne game Saturday at 5 p.m.

Freshmen Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) and Emily Usiak (Matthews, N.C.) each had a double and two RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Sophomore shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) added an RBI and two runs scored, while freshman outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) also had an RBI and run scored for the Bulldogs.

Mars Hill took a 1-0 lead in the third. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and third. The Lions pulled off a double steal, with Brittany Gibson scoring on the play.

Wingate tied it with a run in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) led off the frame with a single, then went to second on a sacrifice. She went to third on a single from senior outfielder Kelsey Maffucci (Rockledge, Fla.), then scored on an RBI groundout from Adams.

The ‘Dogs scored twice in the fourth to take the lead. A pair of errors put runners on second and third with one out. Usiak delivered with a two-run double to left to make it 3-1.

Adams reached on a one-out single in the fifth, then scored on an RBI single from Burrell to make it 4-1. Laskey ripped a two-run double to center to put the Bulldogs on top by five.

Freshman right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, improving to 23-11. She allowed a run on seven hits in seven innings of work, striking out two and walking one. Houser has worked 32 2/3 innings in the SAC Tournament, allowing just five runs. Taylor Morris took the loss, falling to 13-6. She allowed six runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out two.