Hickory, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs surrendered a two-out walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning as they dropped the opening game of the NCAA Southeast Regional Softball Tournament at the hands of 25th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University. The Bears improve to 38-14 on the season, while the Bulldogs move to the elimination bracket and drop to 35-18 overall.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Lenoir-Rhyne out-hit Wingate 10-5
- The Bears had two of three extra-base hits; the 'Dogs hit the lone homer
- WU left five runners on base; LR stranded five
- The Bulldogs committed the only error
- Wingate recorded both stolen bases in the contest
- The Bears' starting pitcher struck out nine and walked none; the 'Dogs' staff struck out five and walked two
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Hannah Stevens homered in the third inning
- Laney McLaurin was one-for-four with a run driven in
- Savannah Lampley went two-for-two at the plate and stole a base
- Heaven Maness also recorded a hit, run scored and a stolen base
- Sydney Kale struck out four in eight innings of work
 
THIRD INNING
 
- Stevens towered a home run down the left field line to give the 'Dogs an early 1-0 lead
 
FOURTH INNING
 
- The Bears loaded the bases with no outs via two infield hits and a single to right
- Julia Mardigian drove in two on a single to put LR ahead
- Kale recorded three straight outs to work around the jam with second and third with no outs
 
SIXTH INNING
 
- Maness singled and stole second to lead off the sixth
- Kale's groundout to second advanced Maness to third
- With two out, McLaurin lined a singled to left field to score the game-tying run
 
NINTH INNING
 
- The Bears recorded back-to-back hits to start the ninth inning
- Wingate responded by retiring the next two batters
- Savannah Moorefield singled through the left side to walk it off for LR, deflecting off the glove of the diving Savanna Brooks at shortstop
 
WRAPUP
 
- Lauren Rakes earned the win for the Bears, improving to 21-4 on the year
- She allowed two runs on five hits, striking out nine
- Kale took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing three runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out four
 
UP NEXT
 
- The Bulldogs move to the elimination bracket for Friday's game
- WU will take on Carson-Newman at 2:30 p.m.