Jefferson City, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldogs held a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning of both games during Friday afternoon's South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader, but Carson-Newman University rallied back to take both contests, prevailing 5-3 in eight innings in game one and 4-3 in game two to improve to 23-11 overall and 5-5 in the SAC. Wingate falls to 11-21 overall and 1-5 in league play.

Game One: Carson-Newman 5, Wingate 3 (8 innings)

Abby Fiessinger, KaraLynne Levi and Katie Pritchett each homered to lead the Carson-Newman offense in game one.

Senior infielder Mikayla Hannah (Lancaster, Calif.) homered to lead the Wingate offense, with junior outfielder Naomi Sapp (Guyton, Ga.) also driving in a run. Freshman infielder Haley Cashwell (Autryville, N.C.) was one-for-two with a triple and a run scored.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the second when sophomore outfielder Jessica VonCannon (Locust, N.C.) was hit by a pitch, then scored on a Carson-Newman error.

Cashwell led off the third with a triple, then scored on Sapp's sacrifice fly to put the 'Dogs on top 2-0. Hannah connected on her second homer of the season in the fourth, a solo shot to start the frame and give Wingate a 3-0 advantage.

The Eagles got on the board in the sixth when Fiessinger led off the inning with a solo homer to make it 3-1. That was the score in the bottom of the seventh, when Levi connected on a two-out, two-run homer to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

Wingate was unable to score in the top of the eighth inning. Pritchett ended it in the bottom of the frame with a walk-off two-run homer.

Lacie Rinus got the win, moving to 14-6. She allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings, striking out 12 and walking three. Sophomore right-hander Aubrey Reep (Eastover, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 9-8. She allowed four earned runs on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking three.

Game Two: Carson-Newman 4, Wingate 3

Cheyenne Boles drove in a pair of runs to lead the Carson-Newman attack in game two. Rinus was three-for-four with an RBI and two runs scored, while Pritchett also drove in a run for the Eagles.

Sophomore infielder Jordan Floyd (Wilmington, N.C.) drove in a pair of runs and scored a run to lead the Wingate attack. Sapp added a hit and an RBI while VonCannon collected a double and scored a run.

Rinus led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, then scored on a Pritchett sacrifice fly to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs countered with two runs in the top of the fifth. Hannah led off the frame with a double, while Floyd's RBI single tied it. She would score on Sapp's RBI single to put the 'Dogs on top 2-1.

VonCannon started the sixth inning with a double, then scored on Floyd's sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.

The Eagles tied it in the bottom of the sixth. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Boles, who made it 3-3 with a two-run single.

A hit batsman and single put two on with one out in the bottom of the seventh for Rinus, who ended the game with a walk-off RBI single, giving the Eagles the 4-3 victory.

Morgan Crawford got the win, allowing a run on two hits in two innings, striking out two to move to 9-4 on the season. Junior right-hander Rachel Weidner (Greenville, N.C.) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out one and walking three, falling to 1-7.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, returning home to host a doubleheader against Anderson at 1 p.m.