Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Mount Olive, N.C.----The 24th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs split a doubleheader at the University of Mount Olive Thursday afternoon in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate won game one 6-3, while the Trojans won 8-2 in game two. The Bulldogs move to 9-1 overall, while Mount Olive is 4-6 on the season.

Game One: Wingate 6, Mount Olive 3

Senior outfielder Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) was two-for-four with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate offense. Sophomore catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) went two-for-two with two RBI, while sophomore infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) scored a pair of runs for the Bulldogs. Junior shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) added an RBI and run scored, while sophomore outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) had a pair of hits.

Wingate jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Helms led off the game with a walk and would then come around to score on an RBI single from Whitley. An RBI single from Laskey plated Whitley to give the 'Dogs an early 2-0 lead.

The 'Dogs added four more runs in the third to take a six-run lead. Whitley drove home the first run with an RBI single, while an RBI single from Burrell made it 4-0. Laskey and sophomore outfielder Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) followed with sacrifice flies to push the lead to six.

Mount Olive got on the board in the seventh, scoring three runs to make the final margin 6-3. The first two runs scored on RBI singles from Kelsey Akers and Beth Overman, while an RBI groundout from Katie Moore plated the final run of game one.

Sophomore right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, improving to 5-0. She tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five. After tossing six shutout innings, she re-entered the game with one out in the seventh to record the final two outs. Carly White took the loss, falling to 1-2. She allowed six runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings of work.

Game Two: Mount Olive 8, Wingate 2

Moore had a double and three RBI to lead the Mount Olive attack in game two. Overman was two-for-three with an RBI and two runs scored, while Kalie Smith had two doubles and two RBI for the Trojans.

Senior designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double and two runs scored to lead the Wingate attack. Helms was one-for-two with a pair of RBI, while Laskey added a double for the Bulldogs.

Wingate got on the board first in the third, when Saliga led off the frame with a double, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Helms.

Mount Olive answered with two in the bottom of the frame to take the lead, with both runs scoring on a two-run double from Moore.

The Trojans plated six runs in the fourth to take a seven-run lead. Overman started the scoring in the inning with an RBI single, while Smith capped it with a two-run double to make it 8-1.

Wingate scored a run in the fifth to make the final margin 8-2. Saliga led off the frame with a single, then scored on an RBI single from Helms.

Madison Johnston got the win, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings of work, striking out one to move to 3-1 on the year. Freshman left-hander Taylor Bates (Peachland, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 4-1. She allowed six runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings, striking out four.

The Bulldogs return to action Sunday, traveling to Francis Marion for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.