Columbus, Ga.----The Wingate University Bulldogs opened the Cougar Classic by falling 8-0 against seventh-ranked North Georgia, but rebounded for a 6-0 victory against Columbus State in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate moves to 4-6 on the season.
#7 North Georgia 8, Wingate 0
Sydney Sprague,
Marley Stowers and
Brittany Gilliam each homered to lead the Nighthawks, while
Lexi Duncan drove in a pair of runs.
Junior outfielder
Naomi Sapp (Guyton, Ga.) and sophomore
Jessica VonCannon (Locust, N.C.) each collected hits for the Bulldogs.
Stowers connected on a three-run homer in the second to put North Georgia on top 4-0, while Duncan's two-run single later in the frame made it 6-0. Sprague connected on a solo homer in the third, while a solo shot from Gilliam in the fourth made it 8-0.
Kylee Smith got the win, moving to 6-0. She allowed just two hits in four innings, striking out six. Junior right-hander
Rachel Weidner (Greenville, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 0-2. She allowed six runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings, striking out one and walking four.
Wingate 6, Columbus State 0
VonCannon had a hit and two RBI to lead the Wingate offense, while senior infielder
Mikayla Hannah (Lancaster, S.C.) was two-for-three with an RBI and run scored. Sophomore infielder
Emma Swenson (Matthews, N.C.) was three-for-four with two runs scored, while
Taylor Wells (Chesterfield, Va.) and
Rebekah Woods (Sylvania, Ga.) each drove in a run. Sapp added a hit and two runs scored for the Bulldogs.
Sapp led off the game with a single, then scored on a wild pitch to give Wingate an early 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs added to the lead in the third. Hannah started the inning with a single, while a walk and error loaded the bases for VonCannon, who gave the 'Dogs a three-run lead with a two-run single. Wells added a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.
Swenson started the third inning with a single, then scored on a squeeze bunt from Woods to put the Bulldogs on top by five. Hannah added an RBI single in the seventh, plating Hannah to make the final margin 6-0.
Sophomore right-hander
Aubrey Reep (Eastover, N.C.) got the win, moving to 3-3. She tossed a four-hit shutout, striking out two and walking five.
Wingate is back in action Sunday, facing North Georgia and Columbus State on day two of the Cougar Classic.