Wingate, N.C.----Wingate university sophomore infielder Katie McLaurin (Laurinburg, N.C.) hit a walk-off two-run homer in the eighth inning of game one Saturday afternoon, while the Bulldogs cruised to a 17-0 victory in game two against Brevard College in South Atlantic Conference softball action. Wingate improves to 24-16 overall and 11-7 in the SAC, while the Tornados fall to 9-19 overall and 2-12 in the conference.

Game One: Wingate 3, Brevard 1 (8 innings)

McLaurin had a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman outfielder Morgan Hendrix (Mocksville, N.C.) added a hit and a run scored, while freshman Meagan Martucci (Huntersville, N.C.) also scored a run for the Bulldogs.

Wingate took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Hendrix got things started with a one-out bloop double. She would score when Laskey reached on an error.

Brevard scored a run in the sixth to tie it. Lauren Parker started the rally with a one-out double, then scored on a Kinny Davis RBI groundout.

That would be all of the scoring until the bottom of the eighth. Martucci pinch ran and was placed on second base via International Tiebreaker to start the frame. She moved to third on a sacrifice. Martucci was still there after an infield popout. McLaurin came to the plate with two outs and lined a 1-2 pitch off the scoreboard in left to give the 'Dogs the 3-1 walk-off win.

Junior right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 17-11 on the year. She allowed a run on just three hits in eight innings of work, striking out four and walking one, throwing only 84 pitches. Jamie Hrobak took the loss, falling to 7-7. She allowed three runs on four hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking four.

Game Two: Wingate 17, Brevard 0 (5 innings)

Junior infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) was three-for-three with a double, triple, homer, four RBI and three runs scored to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman Hailee Barbarits (Wheelersburg, Ohio) added a double, four RBI and two runs scored, while senior shortstop Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) had a homer, three RBI and two runs scored. Juniors Emily Usiak (Matthews, N.C.) and Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) each added two RBI and two runs scored for the Bulldogs, while Hendrix had three hits and two runs scored.

Wingate did all its damage in the first two innings, starting with an eight-run first. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Burrell, who plated the first two runs with a two-run single. McLaurin and Barbarits added RBI walks, while junior Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) followed with an RBI groundout to make it 5-0. Helms followed with a three-run shot down the left field line to put the 'Dogs on top by eight.

Burrell started the second inning with her 13th homer of the year, a solo shot to left. Barbarits added a three-run double down the left field line to push the advantage to 12. Helms followed with an RBI triple, while a Laskey two-run double made it 15-0. A two-run double from Usiak gave Wingate a 17-run advantage.

That would be plenty for senior right-hander Miranda Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.), who celebrated Senior Day in style. She took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, allowing just a one-out single which was erased by a double play to end the game. Paul walked just one, facing one batter more than the minimum to improve to 4-3 on the year. Dallas Heaton took the loss, allowing five runs on two hits in her start, falling to 1-3.

Wingate returns to action Tuesday, hosting a doubleheader against Catawba at 2 p.m.