Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  

Charlotte, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs plated 17 runs Thursday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader at Queens University in South Atlantic Conference softball action. The Bulldogs won by scores of 7-3 and 10-6 (10 innings) to move to 22-10 overall and 4-0 in the SAC. Wingate has now won nine straight games. Queens falls to 11-13 overall and 0-4 in the conference.

Game One: Wingate 7, Queens 3

Sophomore catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) went three-for-four with a homer and three RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Senior designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) and freshman first baseman Amy Wingfield (Mechanicsville, N.C.) each added homers, while freshman outfielder Olivia Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) was three-for-five with an RBI. Sophomore infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) added a double and two runs scored for the Bulldogs.

Kaitlyn Cheek and Amanda Meade each went one-for-three with an RBI to lead the Queens attack. Micaela Hayes and Kaitlyn Bodine each went two-for-three with a run scored for the Royals.

Wingate jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Helms started the game with a double, then scored on an RBI single from Smith. Sophomore outfielder Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) ripped a one-out double to right in the second, then scored on an RBI single from sophomore outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) to make it 2-0. Laskey added an RBI single to put the 'Dogs on top by three.

Saliga led off the third with her fifth homer of the year, a solo shot to left to make it 4-0. Laskey connected on a two-run homer in the fourth to put the Bulldogs on top by six.

RBI singles from Cheek and Meade, along with an RBI groundout from Jasmyn Lindsay cut the Wingate lead to three in the sixth. Wingfield answered by leading off the seventh with her fifth homer of the season, a solo shot to left to make the final margin 7-3.

Sophomore right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 12-4 on the year. She allowed three runs on eight hits in seven innings of work, striking out five and walking one. Ashley Rollins took the loss, falling to 2-5. She allowed six runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings of work.

Game Two: Wingate 10, Queens 6 (10 innings)

Freshman infielder Katie McLaurin (Laurinburg, N.C.) went four-for-five with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate attack in game two. Saliga was three-for-five with a homer, while junior shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) added a homer, two RBI and two runs scored. Wilson went two-for-five with an RBI and two runs scored, while Adams added a pair of RBI for the Bulldogs.

Bodine and Ashton Whitaker each went two-for-four with an RBI to lead the Queens offense. Cheek and Meade also contributed an RBI apiece for the Royals in game two.

Wingate jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning, starting with an RBI single from Wilson. Adams followed with a two-run double to give the 'Dogs a three-run advantage.

The Bulldogs added three more runs in the third to push the lead to six. Burrell started it with a two-run homer to center, her fifth homer of the year, while Saliga followed with her second homer of the day and sixth of the season to make it 6-0.

Queens cut the lead in half in the fourth, scoring three runs on a Wingate error. The Royals added three more runs in the fifth to tie it. Bodine and Whitaker started the rally with RBI singles, while an RBI groundout from Meade made it 6-6.

No team would score again until the 10th. Queens tried to score the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a wild pitch, but Laskey recovered and got the ball to Houser in time to throw the runner out at home. The 'Dogs threw out another potential game-winning run in the ninth to keep the game tied.

Wingate took the lead in the top of the 10th. Burrell was placed on second to start the frame, while Saliga led off the inning with a single. McLaurin followed by connecting on her second homer of the year, a three-run shot to left to make it 9-6. A pair of Queens errors helped the Bulldogs add another run to make the final margin 10-6.

Houser picked up her second win of the day, tossing five shutout innings in relief while allowing just two hits, moving to 13-4 on the year. Bodine took the loss, falling to 3-4. She allowed four runs on nine hits in 7 2/3 innings of work.

Wingate returns to action Saturday, traveling to Mars Hill for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.