Columbus, Ga.----For the second straight day, the Wingate University Bulldogs went 1-1 at the Cougar Classic, defeating Columbus State University 4-1 after falling 8-0 against seventh-ranked North Georgia in NCAA Division II softball action Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs move to 5-7 on the season.
#7 North Georgia 8, Wingate 0 (5 innings)
Reigning NFCA National Pitcher of the Week
Kylee Smith tossed a no-hitter to lead the seventh-ranked Nighthawks to their second straight 8-0 victory over Wingate.
Shelby Hammontree and
Kali Turner each homered to lead the offense, driving in seven of the eight runs.
Sydney Sprague's RBI single in the third gave North Georgia a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. The Nighthawks loaded the bases in the fourth for Turner, who connected on a grand slam to make it a five-run game. Hammontree ended the game in the fifth, connecting on a three-run shot to make it 8-0.
Smith struck out nine without walking a batter to move to 7-0. The lone baserunner for the Bulldogs came via error. Freshman right-hander
Sam Hogan (Albemarle, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 1-2. She allowed seven runs on three hits in four innings, striking out two and walking six.
Wingate 4, Columbus State 1
Sophomore outfielder
Rebekah Woods (Sylvania, Ga.) was one-for-two with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate offense. Junior outfielder
Naomi Sapp (Guyton, Ga.) went two-for-four with a double and two RBI for the Bulldogs.
Wingate jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.
Mikayla Hannah (Lancaster, S.C.) led off the frame with a single, while a walk put two runners on base for Sapp. The All-SAC and All-Region outfielder ripped a two-run double to right center to put the 'Dogs on the board.
Jo Jo Beyer led off the bottom of the frame with a solo homer to cut the lead in half.
Wingate had the answer in the fifth, when Woods connected on the first homer of her career, a two-run shot down the leftfield line to give the Bulldogs a three-run cushion.
Sophomore right-hander
Aubrey Reep (Eastover, N.C.) got her second win of the weekend, moving to 3-3 on the year. She allowed a run on six hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one.
Darby Demarest took the loss, falling to 2-2. She allowed four runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking three.
Wingate is back in action Tuesday, traveling to Mount Olive for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
