Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University softball team brought out the heavy artillery for Senior Day, blasting five home runs in an 18-4 first game victory over Mars Hill. The Bulldogs added two homers in game two, securing the South Atlantic Conference sweep with a 5-4 rally in the nightcap. Wingate improves to 18-16 overall and 11-9 in the SAC. Mars Hill is 11-18 overall and 2-14 in the league.
 
Freshman catcher Raelynn Kramer hit two homers in the first game. Freshman first baseman Laney McLaurin matched her classmate with two long balls, one in each game. Both Bulldogs had a grand slam in the opener. McLaurin's three-run shot in game two tied the contest at 4-4. Prior to the doubleheader, Wingate Softball honored graduate student Aubrey Reep and seniors Haley Cashwell, Sam Hogan, Kaitlyn Knuckles and Gracyn Polk for their contributions to the program.
 
Thoughts from head coach Jamie Stanclift
 
"Senior day is always special for obvious reasons, but today was special for our team because we found our fight again. All of the hard hits and the long balls in game one was absolutely exciting and fun, but the come-from-behind fight in game two is something that we really needed as a 18team."
 
GAME ONE | Wingate 18, Mars Hill 4 (five innings)

KEY STATS

- Wingate had 18 hits with two doubles and five home runs
- The Bulldogs scored 11 runs in the fourth to break things open
- Every WU starter contributed either a hit or a run scored
- Mars Hill's pitchers issued six walks and hit three batters
- The two Lion hurlers combined to throw 136 pitches

KEY BULLDOGS

- On her Senior Day, Reep earned the pitching win and had two hits in two at-bats
- Reep was one of three Bulldogs with two hits each
- Kramer and Hogan matched Reep's two hits
- Both of Kramer's safeties were home runs
- McLaurin hit a grand slam in Wingate's 11-run fourth

SECOND INNING

- Kramer's first home run scored McLaurin, who had walked one batter earlier

THIRD INNING

- Reep started the five-run third with a one-out, solo home run
- After two hit batsmen and a walk, Kramer cranked her grand slam
 
FOURTH INNING
 
- Mars Hill's Payton Duba hit a two-run homer as the Lions scored three
- Wingate answered with 11 runs on six hits in the bottom of the frame
- McLaurin hit her grand slam; later in the inning, Hogan hit a three-run homer
- In between, Cashwell contributed a two-run single
 
WRAPUP

- Kramer was two-for-three with her two homers and six RBI
- Reep earned her seventh victory, striking out five and walking none
- She gave up three runs on six hits
- Cashwell stole her 26th base of the season
- Marissa Adame took the loss, allowing 16 runs (13 earned) on nine hits

GAME TWO | Wingate 5, Mars Hill 4

KEY STATS

- Mars Hill had three homers, compared to two for Wingate (McLaurin, Heaven Maness)
- The Lions led 4-1 after four innings
- The mountain visitors had only one hit in the final three frames
- Both teams turned one double play each
- The Lions and the Bulldogs stranded five runners each
- Three WU pitchers recorded six strikeouts against only one walk

KEY BULLDOGS

- Maness and Morgan Nunnery were both two-for-three at the plate
- Maness had a solo home run and a stolen base
- McLaurin's three RBI were a game-best

FIRST INNING

- Mars Hill struck first, scoring a run on a Wingate wild pitch
- Maness wasted little time tying the contest, hitting her solo blast to center field
 
SECOND INNING

- MHU's Alicia Wittenhagen hit a solo home run to make the score 2-1 Lions

FOURTH INNING
 
- Ashley Hamlin and Wittenhagen both went deep to push the Lions' lead to 4-1
 
SIXTH INNING
 
- After Maness singled and Reep walked, McLaurin tied the game at 4-4 with her second HR of the day
- Katy Kahlich singled and scored the game-winning run, thanks to a throwing error on a Savanna Swickard sacrifice bunt

WRAPUP

- Lefthander Sydney Kale picked up her team-best eighth win in relief
- Kale allowed one run and one hit in 2.2 innings, striking out four and walking one
- Reep earned her first save of the 2021 campaign with a spotless seventh inning
- Wingate is 12-2 overall at home this year

UP NEXT

- Wingate hosts Newberry Wednesday for a 1 p.m. SAC double dip
- The Bulldogs visit Lincoln Memorial Saturday to conclude the 2021 regular season