Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) picked up a pair of victories Wednesday afternoon, allowing just one earned run in 10 innings of work to lead the Bulldogs to a doubleheader sweep against visiting King University in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate won the first game 6-2, while prevailing 8-5 in the second game to improve to 20-14 on the year. King falls to 9-19 overall.

Game One: Wingate 6, King 2

Junior catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) had a homer and five RBI to lead the Wingate offense in game one. Senior shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) was one-for-three with an RBI, while freshman Morgan Hendrix (Mocksville, N.C.) and junior Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) each scored a pair of runs for the Bulldogs.

King took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Chrissy Melcher connected on a solo homer to left. Wingate answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Hendrix started it with a one-out single, then stole second and moved to third on Laskey's single. Burrell's sacrifice fly plated Hendrix to make it 1-1.

The Bulldogs scored four times in the second to take the lead. Singles from Adams and Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.), followed by a walk to Hendrix loaded the bases with two outs for Laskey. The All-Region catcher blasted her fifth homer of the season off the scoreboard in left, a grand slam to make it 5-1.

Adams reached on a fielder's choice in the sixth, moved to second on a Helms single, then went to third on a walk. Adams scored on Laskey's sacrifice fly to put Wingate on top by five. King got an RBI single from Kelsie Craighead in the top of the seventh made the final margin 6-2.

Houser picked up the win, allowing one earned run on five hits in seven innings of work, striking out two and walking two. She threw 94 pitches in her 17th complete game of the season, moving to 13-10. Morgan Lowe took the loss, allowing six runs on 11 hits in six innings, falling to 7-7.

Game Two: Wingate 8, King 5

Helms was two-for-four with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored to lead the Wingate offense. Burrell had a double and two RBI, while sophomore Olivia Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) went two-for-four with two runs scored. Hendrix added a pair of hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs.

Wingate scored a run in the first when Helms reached third on a three-base error, then scored on Burrell's RBI single to make it 1-0.

King scored twice in the second, taking a 2-1 lead on a two-run double from Stephanie Rodriguez. A Hendrix RBI single in the second plated Smith, making it 2-2.

The Tornado responded with a pair of runs in the third. Hannah Smith's RBI double put King back on top, while an RBI double from Amber Palmer made it 4-2. Melcher's sacrifice fly in the fourth gave the Tornado a 5-2 advantage.

The Bulldogs answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to tie it. Burrell's RBI double down the right field line plated the first run, while an RBI single from Emily Usiak (Matthews, N.C.) made it a one-run game. Sophomore Katie McLaurin (Laurinburg, N.C.) followed with a sacrifice fly, tying the game at five.

Wingate scored two more runs in the fifth to regain the lead. Helms provided the big blow of the frame, connecting on her sixth homer of the season, a two-run shot to left to make it 7-5. Smith reached on a two-out single in the sixth, then scored on a King error to give the Bulldogs a three-run lead.

Houser notched her second win of the day and 14th of the year. She tossed the last three innings of the game without allowing a hit or a walk, striking out one to notch her 64th career win. Lauren Smith took the loss, falling to 1-7. She allowed eight runs on 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out one and walking three.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, hosting Carson-Newman at 1 p.m.