Newberry, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs won the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader 2-0, while Newberry College prevailed 8-2 in the second game of the South Atlantic Conference softball matchups. The Bulldogs move to 18-14 overall and 7-5 in the SAC, while the Wolves go to 24-15 overall and 7-5 in the conference.
Game One: Wingate 2, Newberry 0Junior catcher
Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) was two-for-four with two RBI to lead the Wingate attack in game one. Freshman outfielder
Morgan Hendrix (Mocksville, N.C.) went two-for-four with two runs scored for the Bulldogs.
Wingate jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Hendrix reached on a one-out single, then scored on Laskey's RBI single.
The 'Dogs added to their lead in the fifth. Hendrix started it with a one-out single, then stole second. She scored on another Laskey RBI single to make it 2-0.
That would be plenty for junior right-hander
Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.). The All-SAC and All-Region performance tossed a four-hit shutout, needing just 90 pitches to pick up the win. Houser induced three double plays on the day. She struck out one and walked one, moving to 12-9 on the year.
Maude McCourry allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out two and walking one, falling to 8-2.
Game Two: Newberry 8, Wingate 2Mallory Gerndt had two RBI and a run scored to lead the Newberry offense in game two.
Jeri Loffler was three-for-three with an RBI, while McCourry went three-for-four with an RBI and a run scored for the Wolves.
Casey Nellums also had an RBI and a run scored.
Senior shortstop
Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) had a homer to lead the Wingate offense, while Laskey was one-for-three with an RBI. Junior infielder
Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) was one-for-two with a run scored for the Bulldogs.
Wingate again jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Helms drew a leadoff walk, stole second, then scored on Laskey's RBI single.
Newberry tied the game on McCourry's RBI single in the second.
The Wolves plated six runs in the fourth. Nellums started it by drawing a bases-loaded walk, while
Madison Tepfenhart followed with an RBI single. Gerndt capped the scoring with a two-run single, making it 7-1.
Wingate cut into the lead in the sixth when Burrell connected on her team-best 11th homer of the year, a solo shot to left to cut the lead to five. Loffler's RBI single in the sixth made the final margin 8-2.
Brittany Middleton got the win, moving to 4-5. She allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings, striking out one and walking four. Houser took the loss, allowing five earned runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Wingate is back in action Wednesday, hosting King at 2 p.m.
