Due West, S.C.----The 25th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs plated 16 runs Thursday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader at Erskine College in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate won the first game 6-1, while completing the sweep with a 10-3 victory in game two. The Bulldogs move to 4-0 on the season, while Erskine falls to 0-2 overall.

Game One: #25 Wingate 6, Erskine 1

Junior catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) had a double and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack in game one, while junior Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) added two hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Junior outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) had a double and a run scored for the Bulldogs.

Wingate jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. A walk and an error put the first two runners on base, while Laskey's two-run double put the 'Dogs on top.

Erskine got on the board in the third, when Chandler Crawford started the inning with a double, moved to third on a single, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1.

The Bulldogs added to their lead in the sixth, plating four runs to push the lead to five. Adams started the scoring with an RBI double, while Helms followed with an RBI single. Helms and Adams would then both score when Laskey reached on an error, making it 6-1.

Junior right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 2-0 on the year. The All-SAC and All-Region selection allowed a run on five hits in seven innings of work, striking out six without walking a batter. Danica Newton took the loss, falling to 0-1. She allowed six runs on six hits in six innings of work, striking out six and walking two.

Game two: #25 Wingate 10, Erskine 3

Senior shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) had a homer, four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate offense in game two. Junior outfielder Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) went three-for-four with a homer and three RBI, while Laskey added a homer, two RBI and two runs scored. Freshman outfielder Morgan Hendrix (Mocksville, N.C.) was three-for-five with two runs scored.

Erskine jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Sydney Smith's RBI single.

Wingate scored twice in the third to take the lead. A walk, error and single loaded the bases with no outs. Burrell drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, while a sacrifice fly from freshman Mikayla Hannah (Lancaster, S.C.) gave the Bulldogs the lead.

Wingate added to its lead in the fifth, scoring five times to take a six-run advantage. Hendrix started things with a one-out single, while Laskey followed with a two-run homer. A Burrell single and Hannah walk put two runners on base for Wilson, who connected on her first homer as a Bulldog, a three-run shot to make it 7-1.

The Bulldogs scored three more times in the sixth to take a nine-run lead. Hendrix again started the rally with a single, then stole second. Laskey then drew a walk, which was followed by Burrell's first homer of the year, a three-run shot to make it 10-1.

Erskine cut into the lead in the bottom of the frame, with Smith connecting on a two-run homer to make the final margin 10-3.

Sophomore right-hander Misty Doran (Century, Fla.) got the win, moving to 1-0 on the year. She allowed a run on two hits in two innings of work. Houser worked the final five innings, piling up seven strikeouts while allowing two runs, earning her second save of the season. Candace Fitch took the loss, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking four.

The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, hosting a doubleheader against Belmont Abbey at 1 p.m. in the home opener.