Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs walked off with a 9-8, eight-inning victory in game one of Thursday's NCAA Division II softball doubleheader against visiting Limestone College, while cruising to a six-inning 8-0 win in game two. The Bulldogs improve to 14-4 overall, while the Saints fall to 10-7 on the season.

Game One: Wingate 9, Limestone 8 (8 innings)

Junior infielder Misty Doran (Century, Fla.) went three-for-four with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate attack in game one, while senior infielder Emily Usiak (Matthews, N.C.) added two hits and two RBI, including the game-winning double with two outs in the eighth. Senior Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) was two-for-two with a double and two RBI, while freshman Naomi Sapp (Guyton, Ga.) added an RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs.

Emma Swearingen went three-for-four with a homer and four RBI to lead the Limestone offense in game one. Tessa Faucette added a homer, two RBI and two runs scored, while Caroline Hill contributed an RBI and a run scored for the Saints.

Wingate took a 1-0 lead in the first when senior infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) drew a leadoff walk, went to third on an error, then scored on a wild pitch. Sydney Turner answered with an RBI single in the top of the second to make it 1-1.

The Bulldogs regained the lead in the fourth when Doran led off the frame with her third homer of the year, a solo shot to left center. Limestone scored twice in the top of the fifth, taking a 3-2 lead on Hill's RBI groundout and Swearingen's RBI single.

Wingate responded with four runs in the fifth to re-take the lead. Doran's RBI single tied the game, while Wilson's two-run double down the left field line made it 5-3. Sapp added an RBI single to give the 'Dogs a three-run advantage.

Limestone tied it in the top of the seventh when Swearingen connected on a two-out, three-run homer to left, making it 6-6 and sending the game to extras.

The Saints took an 8-6 lead in the top of the eighth when Faucette connected on a two-out, two-run shot to left.

Wingate responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. A wild pitch plated the first run, while a pair of walks put runners on first and second with two outs for Usiak. The senior lined a 3-2 pitch off the wall in dead center, plating Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) and Morgan Hendrix (Mocksville, N.C.) to give the 'Dogs the walk-off 9-8 victory.

Freshman right-hander Rachel Weidner (Greenville, N.C.) got the win in relief, moving to 5-2. She retired the only batter she faced in the eighth inning. Senior right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) worked 7 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs while striking out a season-high eight. Klinnin Carson took the loss, falling to 3-3. She allowed three runs on two hits in three innings of work, striking out two and walking two.

Game Two: Wingate 8, Limestone 0 (6 innings)

Laskey went four-for-four with a homer and four RBI to lead the Wingate offense in game two. Helms was two-for-two with a triple, two RBI and three runs scored, while junior outfielder Olivia Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) added three hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Sapp had two hits and two runs scored, while Doran also drove in a run for the Bulldogs.

Helms drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first, then scored on Laskey's RBI single. Sapp reached on a one-out single in the second, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Helms to make it 2-0.

Wingate scored three times in the fifth to push the lead to five. Singles from Helms and Smith put two on base for Laskey, who crushed the first pitch she saw over the fence in left, making it 5-0.

The Bulldogs plated three more runs in the sixth to end the game. Sapp started the frame with a single, then scored on an RBI triple from Helms. An RBI single from Smith plated Helms to make it 7-0. Smith would go on to score the final run of the game on Doran's RBI single, making it 8-0.

Weidner picked up her second win of the day and sixth of the year, tossing six shutout innings while allowing just four singles. After allowing three hits in the first, she retired 15 consecutive batters until a two-out single in the sixth. Weidner struck out two without walking a batter. Josie Weber took the loss, falling to 5-2. She allowed eight runs on 14 hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking one.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Georgia College to take on the eighth-ranked Bobcats for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.