Wingate, N.C.----The 21st-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs moved to 16-0 at home this season, sweeping a doubleheader against Converse College in NCAA Division II softball action Sunday afternoon. Wingate won the opener 7-1, while prevailing 6-1 in game two to improve to 26-12 overall. The Valkyries fall to 6-32 on the season.

GAME ONE | #21 Wingate 7 Converse 1

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Converse 8-2 in game one
- The 'Dogs collected all three extra-base hits including a homer
- Wingate left nine on base; the Valkyries stranded four
- WU stole two bases
- Each team committed an error
- Wingate pitching struck out seven and walked two; Converse had three strikeouts and five walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Emma Swenson was two-for-three with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the offense
- Aubrey Reep added a pair of RBI and a run scored
- Mary Claire Coyne contributed a triple, RBI and run scored
- Naomi Sapp went two-for-three with two runs scored
- Taylor Wells added a pair of hits
- Rachel Weidner allowed just two hits in seven innings of work

FIRST INNING

- Converse jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an Allison Plafcan RBI single
- Two walks and a Sapp single loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning
- Reep's two-run single gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage

SECOND INNING

- Sapp lined a two-out double to left center
- Coyne followed with an RBI triple to right to make it 3-1

THIRD INNING

- Swenson led off the inning with a single, then moved to third on a walk and Wells single
- A Jordan Floyd sacrifice fly gave the 'Dogs a three-run lead

SIXTH INNING

- A hit batsman and walk put two on with two outs for Swenson
- She connected on a three-run bomb to left center to give Wingate a 6-1 advantage

WRAPUP

- Weidner got the win, moving to 13-6
- She allowed a run on two hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking two
- Weidner retired 17 straight starting with two outs in the first inning
- Daija Irizarry took the loss, falling to 0-2
- She allowed two runs on two hits without recording an out, walking three

GAME TWO | #21 Wingate 6 Converse 1

- The Bulldogs out-hit the Valkyries 10-3 in game two
- Wingate had the only two extra-base hits
- The 'Dogs also stole the only base in the game
- Wingate committed three errors in the contest
- The Bulldogs left eight on base; Converse stranded four
- WU pitching had 14 strikeouts and no walks; Converse had two strikeouts and three walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Coyne had a homer and two RBI to lead the attack
- Reep added two hits and two RBI
- Haley Cashwell was two-for-three with an RBI and two runs scored
- Wells added a hit and an RBI
- Floyd went two-for-two
- Sammi Jo Loney collected a triple and scored a run
- Reep went the distance without allowing an earned run, striking out 14

FIRST INNING

- Converse took a 1-0 lead when a Gabrielle Cuevas was mishandled in the outfield, allowing Hailey Spitler to score
- Coyne tied it in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to center

THIRD INNING

- Cashwell was hit by a pitch to start the frame, then stole second
- She scored on Coyne's sacrifice fly to give Wingate a 2-1 advantage

FOURTH INNING

- Loney started the inning with a triple
- A Wells RBI single put the 'Dogs on top by two
- Cashwell added an RBI single to make it 4-1
- Reep's two-run single capped the scoring, putting the Bulldogs on top by five

WRAPUP

- Reep got the win, moving to 12-4 on the year
- She allowed an unearned run on three hits, striking out a career-high 14 without walking a batter
- Reep had multiple strikeouts in five innings, striking out the side four times
- Cuevas took the loss, falling to 0-2
- She allowed three runs on five hits in three innings of work

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Wednesday, hosting Catawba for a 2 p.m. SAC doubleheader