Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  

Mars Hill, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs plated 21 runs Saturday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader at Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference softball action. Wingate won the first game 12-2 in six innings, while falling 10-9 in game two. The Bulldogs move to 23-11 overall and 5-1 in the SAC. The Lions move to 14-10 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

Game One: Wingate 12, Mars Hill 2 (6 innings)

The Bulldogs exploded for 11 runs in the sixth to break open a tie game. Seven Bulldogs had multiple hits, led by sophomore infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) who went four-for-five with four RBI and two runs scored. Freshman outfielder Olivia Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) added two doubles, three RBI and a run scored, while freshman first baseman Amy Wingfield (Mechanicsville, N.C.) was two-for-three with two RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) went three-for-four with an RBI and two runs scored, while junior shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) was two-for-four with two RBI and a run scored.

Mars Hill took a 1-0 lead in the second, using a double steal with runners on first and third to score the first run of the game. Wingate tied it in the fourth on an RBI single from Helms.

With the score tied 1-1, the Bulldogs piled up 11 runs on 10 hits in the sixth inning. Helms put Wingate on top with an RBI single, while Smith followed with an RBI double. A two-run single from Burrell made it 5-1, while Wingfield's two-run single put the 'Dogs on top by six. Adams followed with an RBI single, while Helms drove in two more runs with a two-run single. Smith capped the scoring with a two-run double, making it 12-1.

Mars Hill scored a run in the bottom of the frame, making the final margin 12-2 on a solo homer from Brittany Gibson.

Sophomore right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 14-4 on the year. She allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings of work, striking out one and walking four. Shelby Culler took the loss, falling to 1-2. She allowed six runs on eight hits in 1 2/3 innings of work.

Game Two: Mars Hill 10, Wingate 9

Robyn Stanek had two homers and three runs scored to lead the Mars Hill attack in game two. Jamie Hockaday was three-for-four with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored, while Aleshia Peek added a homer and two RBI. Erin Vickery was two-for-two with two RBI for the Lions.

Laskey, senior designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) and freshman infielder Katie McLaurin (Laurinburg, N.C.) drove in two runs each for the Bulldogs, while sophomore outfielder Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) was two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored. Helms and Smith each added two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

Wingate jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, getting RBI singles from Saliga and McLaurin. Mars Hill answered with three in the bottom of the frame, taking a 3-2 lead on Peek's two-run homer.

An RBI single from Helms in the second tied the game, while a sacrifice fly from Laskey put the 'Dogs on top by one. Stanek's solo homer in the third tied the game at four.

Mars Hill scored five in the fifth to take a 9-4 lead. Stanek and Hockaday hit back-to-back homers to make it 6-4. Vickery capped the scoring in the frame with a two-run single to put the Lions on top by five.

The Bulldogs had the answer, scoring five times in the top of the sixth to tie it at nine. An RBI single from Smith and RBI double from Laskey made it 9-6. Saliga made it a two-run game with an RBI groundout, while McLaurin's RBI single made it 9-8. Wilson delivered the two-out, game-tying RBI single.

Mars Hill again had the answer, taking a 10-9 lead in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single from Hockaday.

Taylor Hussey got the win, moving to 5-4. She allowed a run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. Houser took the loss, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Wingate is back in action Tuesday, hosting a doubleheader against No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne at 2 p.m.