Dahlonega, Ga.----The 21st-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs wrapped up a challenging Georgia trip with a pair of setbacks against top-five opponents Monday afternoon in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate lost the opener 9-1 against second-ranked West Florida, while falling 7-0 against #4 North Georgia in the final game. The 'Dogs fall to 16-6 on the season.

#2 West Florida 9 #21 Wingate 1

KEY STATS

- West Florida out-hit Wingate 13-4
- The Argos had seven extra-base hits including two homers; Wingate also had a homer
- The Bulldogs left five on base while West Florida stranded four
- The Argos stole five bases on the day
- Wingate pitchers struck out six and walked three; UWF had three strikeouts and a walk

KEY BULLDOGS

- Alexa Sells homered to lead the Wingate offense
- Haley Cashwell, Naomi Sapp and Sammi Jo Loney added hits for the Bulldogs

SECOND INNING

- Wingate jumped out to a 1-0 lead on the third homer from the year from Sells
- A Grace Gilbert two-run homer gave West Florida a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame

THIRD INNING

- RBI doubles from Rhiannon Sassman and Jacquelynne Poling put UWF on top by three

FOURTH INNING

- Sassman's two-run single put the Argos on top 6-1
- Kathleen Smiley added a two-run shot to make it a seven-run game

SIXTH INNING

- Ally Merrill's RBI single gave West Florida a 9-1 lead

WRAPUP

- Grace Gilbert got the win, moving to 8-2 on the year
- She allowed a run on four hits in six innings, striking out three and walking one
- Rachel Weidner took the loss, falling to 9-3
- She allowed four runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings, striking out four

#4 NORTH GEORGIA 7 #21 WINGATE 0

KEY STATS

- The Nighthawks out-hit the Bulldogs 12-4
- UNG had the only two extra-base hits in the game
- North Georgia left 10 on base; Wingate stranded eight runners
- The Bulldogs committed the lone error in the game
- UNG pitchers struck out five and walked four; Wingate had no strikeouts and four walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Emma Swenson went two-for-three
- Sapp and Mary Claire Coyne added hits for the Bulldogs

THIRD INNING

- North Georgia got on the board on a Kaylee Womack RBI single

FOURTH INNING

- A two-run double from Olivia Sinquefield made it 3-0

SIXTH INNING

- Another Sinquefield RBI double put the Nighthawks on top by four

SEVENTH INNING

- Lexi Duncan drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 5-0
- A Kristen Adkins two-run single finished the scoring on the day

WRAPUP

- Abbie Crawford got the win, moving to 4-2 on the year
- She allowed three hits in six shutout innings, striking out five and walking two
- Kaitlyn Knuckles took the loss, falling to 0-1
- She allowed six earned runs on 12 hits in seven innings

UP NEXT

- Wingate is right back in action Tuesday, traveling to Limestone for a 2 p.m. doubleheader
- The Bulldogs open SAC play Saturday at Lincoln Memorial at 1 p.m.
- WU returns home to host Newberry March 19 at 2 p.m.