Duncan, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs opened play at the 2017 Mid-South Classic with a pair of victories Saturday afternoon, downing Mount Olive 4-3 in game one, while prevailing 9-1 in five innings against Augusta in NCAA Division II softball action. The Bulldogs have won four straight, improving to 9-9 on the year.

Wingate 4, Mount Olive 3

Senior Katie McLaurin (Laurinburg, N.C.) had two hits including a double, driving in two runs to lead the Wingate offense. Freshmen Mary Claire Coyne (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Emma Swenson (Matthews, N.C.) each contributed two hits and an RBI, while senior Misty Doran (Century, Fla.) added a hit and a run scored.

Mount Olive took a two-run lead in the third, with a pair of walks putting runners on second and third for Kelly Huffman, who delivered the first hit of the game for the Trojans, a two-run single to make it 2-0.

Wingate answered with a run in the bottom of the frame, with Claire lining a one-out ground-rule double, then scoring on a Swenson RBI single. Mount Olive regained a two-run lead in the sixth on an RBI single from Caitlin Ewers.

The Bulldogs scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. A hit batsman and groundout put a runner on second for Coyne, who got Wingate within a run with an RBI single. Doran followed with a single, while McLaurin followed with the big blow, a two-out, two-run double to left center to make it 4-3.

Freshman right-hander Aubrey Reep (Eastover, N.C.) got the win, moving to 6-5. She allowed three runs on just three hits in seven innings of work, piling up a career-high 12 strikeouts. Karen Foley took the loss, falling to 0-6. She allowed three runs on three hits in one inning of work.

Wingate 9, Augusta 1 (5 innings)

Freshman Rebekah Woods (Sylvania, Ga.) had a triple and four RBI to lead the Wingate attack in game two Saturday, while Coyne added a homer. Freshman Jordan Floyd (Wilmington, N.C.) had a double, two RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore Taylor Wells (Chesterfield, Va.) also drove in a run. Sophomore Naomi Sapp (Guyton, Ga.) scored a pair of runs for the Bulldogs.

Wingate took advantage of an Augusta error in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Jaguars tied it in the top of the second, but the 'Dogs piled up four runs in the third inning. Coyne started it with a solo shot to center, her third of the year. Floyd's two-run double made it 4-1, while Woods was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give Wingate a four-run cushion.

The Bulldogs scored four times in the fifth to end the game. A single and walk put two on for Wells, who made it 6-1 with an RBI single. Another walk loaded the bases for Woods, who ended the game with a bases-clearing three-run triple, making it 9-1.

Sophomore Rachel Weidner (Greenville, N.C.) got the win, moving to 3-4. She allowed just one hit in five innings of work, striking out seven and walking two. Kristen Mills took the loss, falling to 1-5. She allowed nine runs on seven hits in four innings of work, striking out three and walking seven.

Wingate is back in action Sunday, playing two more games in the Mid-South Classic. The Bulldogs face UNC Pembroke at 12 p.m., while wrapping up the weekend at 2 p.m. against Converse.