Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs cruised to an 8-3 victory in game one of a South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader against Newberry College Tuesday afternoon, while using a three-run 10th inning for a dramatic 6-5 win in game two. The Bulldogs improve to 28-12 overall and 10-2 in the SAC, while Newberry falls to 17-19 overall and 4-8 in the conference.

Game One: Wingate 8, Newberry 3

Sophomore infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) went three-for-four with a homer and four RBI to lead the Wingate offense in game one. Junior shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) added a homer and two RBI, while sophomore catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) also homered for the Bulldogs. Sophomore outfielder Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) was two-for-three with two runs scored, while sophomore outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) added an RBI and a run scored.

Leah Hosking went two-for-three with a double and two RBI to lead the Newberry offense. Danielle Basch added two hits and a run scored, while Madison Tepfenhart also drove in a run for the Wolves.

Wingate jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Burrell connected on her sixth homer of the year, a two-run shot to center.

The Bulldogs added five more runs in the second to push the lead to seven. Adams started the scoring with an RBI single, while Helms followed with her seventh homer of the season, a three-run shot down the left field line to make it 6-0. Laskey connected on her team-best eighth homer of the season two batters later, a solo shot to left center to put the 'Dogs on top by seven.  

Newberry got on the board in the fifth, scoring three times to cut the lead to four. Hosking plated the first two runs with a two-run double, while Tepfenhart followed with an RBI groundout to make it 7-3.

Wingate added one more run in the sixth. Wilson doubled down the left field line to start the frame, then scored on an RBI single from Helms to make the final margin 8-3.

Sophomore right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 18-5. The league-leader in wins allowed three runs on eight hits in seven innings of work, striking out two and walking two. Madison Burnett took the loss, falling to 5-8. She allowed six runs on six hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Game Two: Wingate 6, Newberry 5 (10 innings)

Wilson went three-for-four with two RBI and a run scored, while Laskey added a double, two RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs in game two. Adams went two-for-three with a run scored.

Ashlen Ayres went two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Newberry offense in game two. Basch went one-for-three with an RBI, while Amelia Putnam was one-for-four with an RBI for the Wolves.

Newberry took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Ayres scored on a Wingate error. The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the frame when Laskey scored on an RBI single from junior designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.).

That would be all of the scoring until the eighth. The Bulldogs could never add another run, despite posting threats nearly every inning. Wingate had 11 runners left on base as the game headed to extra frames.

The Wolves took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth on a perfect squeeze bunt from Basch. Wingate tied it in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single from Wilson.

Putnam's RBI single in the top of the ninth put the Wolves back on top. Newberry had runners on the corners with two outs looking to add to the lead, but Adams made a diving catch on a sinking fly ball in the right center field gap to keep it a one-run game.

The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI grounder from Burrell, making it 3-3 heading to the 10th.

An RBI single from Ayres gave Newberry a 4-3 advantage in the 10th, while a Wingate error allowed a second run to score, making it 5-3.

The Bulldogs had the answer in the bottom of the frame. Wilson started the rally by ripping an RBI double to left center, making it 5-4. A hit batsman, groundout and bunt single loaded the bases for the Bulldogs with one out, still trailing by a run. Laskey lined a 3-1 pitch into the gap in left center, plating the tying and winning run for the Bulldogs.

Freshman left-hander Taylor Bates (Peachland, N.C.) got the win, moving to 8-7. She allowed five unearned runs on seven hits in 10 innings of work, striking out one and walking one. Brittany Middleton took the loss, falling to 10-7. She allowed three earned runs on nine hits in 9 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking seven.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, traveling to Carson-Newman for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.