Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Columbus, Ga.----Wingate University sophomore catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) drove home the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday afternoon to give the Bulldogs a 5-4 victory over No. 25 Columbus State in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate also registered a 9-0 victory over Pfeiffer University earlier in the day. The Bulldogs improved to 6-0 on the year.

"We had two great wins today," head coach Lani Shaffer says. "It was an all-around team effort from our pitching staff, offense and defense. Getting the win against a nationally ranked team was huge for this program and I am excited about where we go from here."

Wingate 9, Pfeiffer 0 (6 innings)

Freshman left-hander Taylor Bates (Peachland, N.C.) tossed a four-hit shutout to lead the Bulldogs to a 9-0 victory. Junior shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) was two-for-four with a homer and four RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Freshman infielder Katie McLaurin (Laurinburg, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double, RBI and run scored, while sophomore outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) had two RBI and a run scored.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the third, plating three runs. McLaurin drove home the first run with an RBI double, then scored on a two-run single from Burrell to put Wingate on top 3-0.

The 'Dogs exploded for six runs in the sixth to take a nine-run lead. Burrell led off the frame with her first homer of the year, a solo shot to make it 4-0. Adams added a two-run single, while an RBI single from sophomore infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) made it 7-0. Freshman outfielder Olivia Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) drew a bases loaded walk to push the lead to eight, while a sacrifice fly from Burrell made the final margin 9-0.

Bates improved to 2-0 on the year, allowing just four singles while striking out nine in six innings of work. Jessica Griffin took the loss, falling to 0-1. She allowed eight runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Wingate 5, #25 Columbus State 4 (8 innings)

Laskey and senior designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) drove in two runs each to lead the Wingate attack. Helms was one-for-two with a run scored, while Adams, McLaurin and Helms also scored for the Bulldogs.

Casey Googe and Morgan Staffins each had an RBI and run scored to lead the CSU attack. Kristen Carr and Taylor Turner both went one-for-three with an RBI, while Suzanne Carney scored a pair of runs for the Cougars.

Columbus State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, getting RBI singles from Staffins and Carr, along with an RBI groundout from Turner.

Wingate had the answer, scoring three in the bottom of the frame to tie it. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, while an RBI single from Laskey got the Bulldogs on the board. Saliga added a two-run single to tie it at three.

That would be all of the scoring until the eighth inning. Carney was placed on second place via International Tiebreaker rule in the top of the eighth. She went to third on a groundout, then scored on an RBI single from Googe to put the Cougars on top 4-3.

The Bulldogs answered with two in the bottom of the frame to win it. Adams was placed on second, then went to third on a sacrifice from Helms. She scored the tying run on a wild pitch. McLaurin and Burrell drew walks, bringing Laskey to the plate with two outs. She delivered with the game-winning RBI single, plating McLaurin to give Wingate the 5-4 win.

Sophomore right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 3-0. She allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits in eight innings of work, striking out six. Turner took the loss, falling to 2-2. She allowed five runs on six hits in 7 2/3 innings of work, striking out four.

The Bulldogs return to action Sunday in Columbus. Wingate takes on King at 10:30 a.m., then faces Belmont Abbey at 12:30 p.m.