Tigerville, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs dropped a pair of tight contests in the season-opening doubleheader at North Greenville University in NCAA Division II softball action. The Bulldogs dropped the opener 4-3 in nine innings, while falling 1-0 in game two. The Crusaders move to 5-1 on the season, while Wingate starts its season 0-2.
GAME ONE | North Greenville 4, Wingate 3 (9 innings)
KEY STATS
- NGU out-hit Wingate 8-6
- The Crusaders had the lone extra-base hit of the game
- Each team stole three bases
- The 'Dogs left nine on base; the Crusaders stranded eight
- Each team committed an error
- Wingate pitching piled up 11 strikeouts against four walks; NGU had nine strikeouts and five walks
KEY BULLDOGS
- Emma Swenson went two-for-four with an RBI and run scored
- Jordan Floyd added a hit and an RBI for the Bulldogs
- Haley Cashwell had a hit, three stolen bases and a run scored
- Aubrey Reep also scored a run for the 'Dogs
- Reep struck out 10 in 5 2/3 innings of work, allowing one earned run
- Kaitlyn Knuckles added 1 1/3 shutout innings of relief
FOURTH INNING
- Swenson led off the frame with a single, while Reep reached on a fielder's choice
- A walk moved Reep to second, while Floyd's two-out RBI single got WU on the board
FIFTH INNING
- Cashwell reached on a one-out single, then stole second and third
- She scored on Swenson's RBI single to put Wingate on top 2-0
- North Greenville answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame to tie it
- A walk and error put two runners on for NGU, with a Savannah Small two-run single tying it
EIGHTH INNING
- Swenson was placed on second to start the inning, then moved to third on Swenson's groundout
- She scored on a passed ball to put Wingate on top 3-2
- Josie Reed's RBI double in the bottom of the frame tied it at three and sent it to the ninth
NINTH INNING
- The Bulldogs were unable to plate a run in the top of the frame
- Small ended things with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the inning
WRAPUP
- Jaelin Griffin got the win, moving to 2-0
- She allowed three runs on six hits in nine innings, striking out nine and walking five
- Raechel Cutcher took the loss allowing two unearned runs in 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits
GAME TWO | North Greenville 1, Wingate 0
KEY STATS
- NGU out-hit the Bulldogs 6-5 in game two
- North Greenville once again had the lone extra-base hit in the contest
- Each team had a stolen base
- The Crusaders stranded seven runners; with the 'Dogs leaving six on base
- Neither team committed an error
- WU pitching had seven strikeouts and two walks; NGU had seven strikeouts and a walk
KEY BULLDOGS
- Cashwell had two more hits and another stolen base
- Reep and Gracyn Polk each went one-for-two for the Bulldogs
- Cutcher allowed a run on six hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking two
FIFTH INNING
- Brooklyn Stone was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the fifth, then went to second on a sacrifice
- She scored on Claire Gilmore's RBI double to get North Greenville on the board
SEVENTH INNING
- Wingate had a chance to tie it in the top of the seventh when Floyd started the inning with a single
- She moved to second on a sacrifice, then went to third on a groundout
- NGU finished off the game with a strikeout
WRAPUP
- Richards got the win, moving to 1-0
- She allowed five hits in seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts
- Cutcher took the loss, falling to 0-2 despite allowing just one run in six innings of work
UP NEXT
- Wingate travels to Florida for four games this weekend, playing two Saturday and two more Sunday
- The 'Dogs face Tampa, Embry-Riddle and Valdosta State in St. Augustine, Fla.
- Wingate's first home doubleheader will be Saturday, Feb. 15, hosting Augusta at 1 p.m.
