Dahlonega, Ga.----The Wingate University Bulldogs snapped No. 13 North Georgia's 19-game winning streak Saturday morning, defeating the defending national champions 4-1 in NCAA Division II softball action. The 'Dogs capped their day with a 10-2 five-inning victory over UVA-Wise to move to 11-3 on the season.

Wingate 4, #13 North Georgia 1

Senior infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) led the offense, going two-for-three with a pair of homers for the Bulldogs. Senior catcher Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.) added a pair of RBI, while freshman Naomi Sapp (Guyton, Ga.) was one-for-three with a run scored.

Wingate jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Helms led off the game with her fourth homer of the year, a solo shot to left.

North Georgia tied it in the second when Kelly Kahlert led off the frame with a single, then scored on a Laura Spivey sacrifice fly.

The Bulldogs regained the lead in the third when Helms blasted her second homer of the year, a solo shot to center to make it 2-1. Reigning National Player and Pitcher of the Year Courtney Poole had allowed just one homer in 103 innings of work this season before Helms hit a pair in the first three innings Saturday.

Wingate added some insurance in the fifth. Sapp started things with a single, then moved to second on a sacrifice. Helms was intentionally walked, while another sacrifice put runners on second and third for Laskey, who delivered with a two-run single to make it 4-1.

That would be plenty for Houser, who moved to 8-1 on the year. The three-time All-SAC selection allowed just one run against the high-powered Nighthawk offense, surrendering five hits on the afternoon against a team averaging nearly seven runs per game on the year.

Poole suffered her first loss of the year, falling to 18-1 on the season. The 2015 National Player of the Year allowed four earned runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out 10 and walking one. Poole had allowed only six earned runs in 103 innings entering the contest.

Wingate 10, UVA Wise 2 (5 innings)

Senior infielder Emily Usiak (Matthews, N.C.) had a double and three RBI to lead the Wingate attack, while junior infielder Katie McLaurin (Laurinburg, N.C.) was three-for-three with a homer and two RBI for the Bulldogs. Helms went two-for-two with an RBI and three runs scored, while Laskey, Misty Doran (Century, Fla.) and Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) each contributed a double and an RBI.

Wingate jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Helms drew a leadoff walk, stole second and third, then scored on Usiak's RBI single. Wilson followed with an RBI double to make it 2-0.

The Bulldogs scored four times in the second to go on top by six. McLaurin led off the frame with a solo shot to left, her first of the year. After a Sapp single, Helms made it 4-0 with an RBI single. Usiak's two-run double to right center put the 'Dogs on top 6-0.

UVA-Wise scored twice in the third to make it 6-2. The first run scored on a Wingate error, while a Mindy Combs RBI double got the Cavaliers within four.

The Bulldogs answered with a four-run fourth to take an eight-run lead. Laskey plated Helms with an RBI double to get things started, while a UVA-Wise error made it 8-2. A Wilson RBI double and McLaurin RBI single gave Wingate a 10-2 advantage.

Freshman right-hander Rachel Weidner (Greenville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 3-2. She allowed one earned run on three hits in five innings without walking a batter. Emily Kale took the loss, falling to 2-3. She allowed nine runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Wingate is back in action Sunday, playing two more contests in Dahlonega. The Bulldogs face UVA-Wise at 9 a.m., then wrap up the weekend against North Georgia at 1 p.m.