Hickory, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs picked up a 6-3 victory in game one of Wednesday's South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader at Lenoir-Rhyne University. The Bears responded with a 5-1 victory in game two. Wingate moves to 8-8 overall and 1-1 in the SAC, while Lenoir-Rhyne goes to 10-6 overall and 6-4 in league play.

GAME ONE | Wingate 6 Lenoir-Rhyne 3

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Lenoir-Rhyne 8-7
- Each team had three-extra-base hits including one homer each
- The Bulldogs left 10 on base; the Bears stranded six
- The 'Dogs committed two of the three errors in the contest
- Wingate had the only three stolen bases in the game
- WU pitching had one strikeout and one walk; LR had six strikeouts and seven walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Heaven Maness had a triple, homer and two runs scored
- Monica Hernandez added a double and two RBI
- Raelynn Kramer added a hit, RBI and run scored
- Hannah Reeves also drove in a run for the Bulldogs
- Haley Cashwell contributed a pair of hits and a stolen base
- Aubrey Reep allowed one earned run to earn the win
- Sydney Kale went 2 2/3 innings to pick up the save

THIRD INNING

- A Wingate error and Savannah Moorefield homer gave LR a 2-0 lead

FOURTH INNING

- The 'Dogs answered with a three-run fourth to take the lead
- Maness led off the frame with a towering solo shot to left to make it 2-1
- Sam Hogan followed with a single, while a Kramer walk put two on for the Bulldogs
- Hernandez delivered a pinch-hit, two-run double to right center to give WU a 3-2 lead

SIXTH INNING

- Hogan drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on a Savanna Swickard single
- Hogan scored when Cashwell reached on an error to give the 'Dogs a two-run advantage
- A Leanna Sherrill RBI double got the Bears back within one in the bottom of the inning

SEVENTH INNING

- The 'Dogs tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the seventh
- Maness led off the inning with a triple to right center
- She scored on Kramer's RBI single to make it 5-3
- Reeves drew a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to three
- Kale retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to preserve the Wingate win

WRAPUP

- Reep got the win, allowing an earned run on six hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out one without walking a batter
- Kale allowed a run on a hit in 2 2/3 innings to collect her second save of the season
- Lauren Rakes took the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking six

GAME TWO | Lenoir-Rhyne 5 Wingate 1

KEY STATS

- The Bears out-hit the Bulldogs 9-8
- Each team had two extra-base hits; LR had two of the three homers
- Each team had one stolen base in game two
- Wingate left eight on base; the Bears stranded six
- LR pitching had six strikeouts and a walk; WU had four strikeouts and two walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Kramer was two-for-three with a homer to lead the WU offense
- Reep added a double in game two
- Cashwell collected two more hits
- Kaitlyn Knuckles tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief

SECOND INNING

- Wingate took a 1-0 lead when Kramer connected on a solo shot to left
- Lora Beth Wood tied it in the bottom of the frame with a solo homer

THIRD INNING

- A Lauren Rakes RBI single gave the Bears a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the third

FOURTH INNING

- A Kylee Leonhardt three-run homer put Lenoir-Rhyne on top by four

WRAPUP

- Morgan Beeler got the win, allowing a run on eight hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one
- Kale took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in 2 1/3 innings

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Anderson for a 1 p.m. doubleheader
- The 'Dogs host Queens next Tuesday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader