Duncan, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs began their Saturday with a 5-4 win over Saint Joseph's in eight innings on day two of the Mid-South Classic, while dropping a tough 3-2 decision against Armstrong in the night cap. Wingate moves to 7-3 on the season.

Wingate 5, Saint Joseph's 4 (8 innings)

Senior Emily Usiak (Matthews, N.C.) had a double, homer and four RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Senior catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) added two hits and two runs scored, while senior Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) piled up three hits for the Bulldogs. Freshman Naomi Sapp (Guyton, Ga.) added an RBI for Wingate.

The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the first. Laskey started things with a two-out double, then scored on an RBI double from Usiak.

Saint Joseph's tied it with a run in the top of the fifth, but the 'Dogs responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Singles from Laskey and Morgan Hendrix (Mocksville, N.C.) put two on for Usiak, who connected on her first homer of the year, a three-run shot to make it 4-1.

Saint Joseph's scored three times in the sixth to tie it. An error and single put two on base for Myranda Eckberg, who delivered an RBI double to make it 4-3. A Samantha Miller RBI single made it 4-4.

That was the score in the bottom of the eighth. Wilson was placed on second base via International Tiebreaker rule, then moved to third on a sacrifice. She scored the winning run on Sapp's walk-off RBI single.

Senior right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 6-0. She tossed two shutout innings in relief. Freshman Rachel Weidner (Greenville, N.C.) tossed six innings without allowing an earned run, striking out eight. Morgan Akre took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Armstrong 3, Wingate 2

Misty Doran (Century, Fla.) and Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) each went one-for-two with an RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Usiak added two hits and a run scored for the Bulldogs.

Wingate took a 1-0 lead in the second when Usiak single to start the frame, then scored on an RBI single from Adams.

Armstrong took the lead with a three-run fourth inning. A single, hit batsman and error put runners on second and third, while a Macy Coleman RBI single tied it. The Pirates scored two runs on an error to take a 3-1 lead.

Wingate cut the lead to one in the sixth. Laskey and Usiak started the frame with singles, while a Doran RBI single made it 3-2.

Jane Trzaska got the win, moving to 3-1. She allowed a run on four hits in five innings, striking out three. Morgan Duff pitched the final two innings to notch the save. Houser suffered her first loss of the year, allowing an earned run on two hits in six innings, striking out three.

Wingate is back in action Sunday, playing two more games on the final day of the Mid-South classic. The Bulldogs face Saint Joseph's at 12 p.m., then take on Augusta at 2 p.m.