Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs split a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader against visiting Lincoln Memorial University Sunday afternoon in NCAA Division II softball action. LMU rallied for a 4-3 win in eight innings in the opener, while the Bulldogs rolled to a five-inning 8-0 win in game two. The 'Dogs move to 16-6 overall, while the Railsplitters are 13-16 on the season. Both teams are 1-1 in conference play.

Game One: Lincoln Memorial 4, Wingate 3 (8 innings)

Jennifer Moose was two-for-four with a homer and two RBI to lead the LMU attack in game one. Ashlea Hunter also homered for the Railsplitters, while Meredith Johnson went two-for-four with an RBI.

Junior infielder Misty Doran (Century, Fla.) was two-for-three with a triple and two RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Freshman outfielder Naomi Sapp (Guyton, Ga.) also drove in a run, while senior infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) added a hit and a run scored.

Wingate jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. Helms started the frame with a double, while a pair of walks loaded the bases. Doran lined a two-run single to left, while Sapp followed by drawing a bases-loaded walk, making it 3-0.

LMU got on the board in the fourth when Moose connected on a two-run homer to left, making it 3-2.

That was the score in the top of the seventh, when Hunter led off the inning with a solo homer to left, tying the contest and sending it to extras.

Johson's RBI single down the left field line in the top of the eighth gave the Railsplitters their first lead of the day. Brianna Taylor shut down the Wingate offense in the bottom of the frame to give LMU the victory.

Taylor got the win, moving to 8-6 on the year. She allowed three runs on four hits in eight innings of work, striking out two and walking three. She allowed just one hit after allowing three runs in the first inning. Senior right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 8-4. She allowed an unearned run on one hit in two innings of work, striking out one.

Game Two: Wingate 8, Lincoln Memorial 0 (5 innings)

Doran went three-for-three with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate attack in game two. Senior Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) was also three-for-three, collecting a double and two RBI while scoring a run. Helms contributed two hits, two RBI and two runs scored, while senior catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) also had two hits and two RBI for the Bulldogs.

Wingate again jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. Helms started things with a single, then scored on Laskey's RBI single. Doran followed with a single, while Wilson's two-run double to right center made it 3-0.

The Bulldogs pushed the lead to five in the third. Laskey led off the frame with a walk. Doran would then connect on her fourth homer of the year, a two-run shot just inside the foul pole in left, making it 5-0. Helms scored on another Laskey RBI single in the fourth to push the lead to six.

Wingate scored two more runs in the fifth to finish the game. Singles from Doran, Wilson and Sapp loaded the bases for Helms. The senior lined a two-run double to left to put the 'Dogs on top by eight.

Houser got the win, moving to 9-4 on the year. She allowed just one hit in five innings, striking out two and walking four. Taylor took the loss, falling to 8-7. She allowed five runs on seven hits in three innings, striking out two and walking one.

Wingate is back in action Tuesday, hosting a doubleheader against Lenoir-Rhyne at 2 p.m.