Box Score  

Harrogate, Tenn.----Wingate University sophomore right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) tossed a two-hit shutout Friday afternoon, while senior designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) connected on a solo homer in the seventh to give the third-seeded Bulldogs a 1-0 victory over top-seeded and 12th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne on day two of the Food Lion SAC softball tournament. Wingate improves to 34-17 overall, advancing to day three of the tournament on Saturday. The Bears fall to 38-13 overall and are eliminated from the SAC Tournament.

Wingate is now 3-0 against the 12th-ranked Bears this season. The Bulldogs swept a doubleheader in Wingate on March 27. Houser has collected a win in all three contests, going 3-0 while allowing just two runs in 19 2/3 innings against LRU. Wingate entered the tournament as the number five seed in the NCAA Southeast regional poll, while LRU was ranked fourth. The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, taking on the winner of the Carson-Newman vs. Tusculum game at 12 p.m.

Saliga had one of Wingate's three hits on Friday, and the lone extra-base hit in the contest. Sophomore infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) was two-for-three for the Bulldogs.

The Bears got their first hit with two outs in the first inning, following a one-out walk, putting runners at first and second, but Houser induced an inning-ending groundout. That started a streak of eight straight retired, not allowing another Bear to reach base until a one-out walk in the fourth. Another walk put two runners on, but Houser again got out of the jam with an inning-ending groundout.

Helms started the game with a single, but she was stranded at first. That was the only Wingate hit until Helms led off the sixth with a single, but she was again stranded there.

After a lineout started the seventh inning, Saliga ripped a 1-1 pitch down over the fence down the left field line to give the 'Dogs a 1-0 lead. It is the seventh homer of the year for the first team All-SAC designated player.

LRU started the seventh with a single and an error, while a sacrifice put runners on second and third with one out. Houser got out of that jam with a game-inning double play, when a line drive from Dakota Keller was gloved by Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) at shortstop, who threw to third to cut down the runner.

Houser moves to 23-8 on the year, notching her 25th complete game and ninth shutout of the season. She struck out two and walked four on the day, allowing just two singles. Brandi Hole took the loss, falling 20-5 on the year. She allowed a run on three hits in seven innings, striking out two and walking one.