Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs pounded out 23 hits Saturday afternoon, opening conference play with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Tusculum College in South Atlantic Conference softball action. The Bulldogs cruised to a 9-1 victory in five innings in game one, while rallying for a 7-6 walk-off win in eight innings in game two. Wingate moves to 18-10 overall and 2-0 in the SAC, while the Pioneers fall to 14-16 on the year and 0-2 in the conference.

Game One: Wingate 9, Tusculum 1 (5 innings)

Every Wingate starter either scored a run or drove in a run in game one. Junior shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) and sophomore outfielders Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) and Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) each had two RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs. Freshman outfielder Olivia Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) went two-for-four with an RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

Carolyn Williamson had the lone two hits for Tusculum in game one, while also driving in the only run of the game for the Pioneers.

Wingate jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third. Laskey plated the first run with an RBI single, while Burrell followed with an RBI single. Senior designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) added an RBI groundout to give the 'Dogs a three-run lead.

Tusculum got on the board in the fifth on Williamson's RBI double to let center, making it 3-1.

The Bulldogs had the emphatic response in the bottom of the frame, scoring six times to end the game. Burrell started the scoring with an RBI single. Wingate would then load the bases with two outs and string together four consecutive hits to finish the game. Wilson started it with a two-run double to left center, while a two-run single from Adams made it 8-1. After a bunt single from sophomore infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.), Smith ripped an RBI single up the middle to give the 'Dogs the 9-1 victory.

Sophomore right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 10-4 on the year. She allowed a run on two hits in five innings, striking out three and walking three. Kelly King took the loss, allowing nine runs (three earned) on 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking two.

Game Two: Wingate 7, Tusculum 6 (8 innings)

Helms had three hits in game two including two homers to lead the Wingate offense. She started and ended the second game with a homer for the Bulldogs. Freshman first baseman Amy Wingfield (Mechanicsville, Va.) went two-for-four with a homer and three RBI, while Smith was three-for-four with an RBI and a run scored. Laskey added a pair of hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs.

Courtney Hutcherson had a homer and two runs scored to lead the TC attack in game two. Kaytlin Stroinski had a double and two RBI, while Brooke Rhodes went two-for-four with two RBI for the Pioneers. Williamson was three-for-four with two runs scored.

Wingate jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Helms led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer to left, her fourth of the year.

Tusculum tied it in the second when Hutcherson led off the frame with a solo homer to left. Rhodes added an RBI double to right center to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead.

An RBI double from Smith in the second tied it at two, while Laskey's RBI double to right center made it 3-2. Williamson led off the third with a single and would then score on a sacrifice fly from Stroinski to tie the game at three.

Wingfield ripped an RBI double to right center in the third, plating Saliga to give the 'Dogs a 4-3 advantage.

Tusculum tied the game in the seventh, when Williamson scored on a two-out RBI double from Stroinski.

The Pioneers regained the lead in the top of the eighth. The first run scored on a wild pitch, while an RBI double from Rhodes gave Tusculum a 6-4 advantage.

The lead would not last long, as Wingfield led off the bottom of the eighth by blasting the first pitch of the frame over the fence in left center, tying the game at six. After a pair of flyouts, Helms came to the plate with two outs and nobody on base. She ripped the first pitch she saw over the fence in right center, giving the Bulldogs their third walk-off win of the week.

Freshman left-hander Taylor Bates (Peachland, N.C.) got the win, moving to 7-6. She allowed four earned runs on 10 hits in eight innings of work, striking out four while throwing 141 pitches. Eliza Davis took the loss, falling to 2-5. She allowed seven runs on 13 hits in 7 2/3 innings of work, striking out one and walking one.

The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday, traveling to Queens for a 2 p.m. start.