Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs stayed hot Sunday afternoon, outscoring USC Aiken 17-0 in a doubleheader sweep in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate won the opener 8-0, while prevailing 9-0 in game two, with both contests ending in six innings. The Bulldogs improve to 10-4 overall and 8-0 at home, while the Pacers fall to 3-11 on the season. Wingate has outscored opponents 90-12 in the eight home games this season.

GAME ONE | Wingate 8 USC Aiken 0 (6 innings)

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit USC Aiken 10-3
- The Bulldogs had all four extra-base hits including the lone homer
- The 'Dogs left six on base; the Pacers stranded three
- USCA had the lone error of the contest
- WU pitching struck out 11 without a walk; USCA had two strikeouts and four walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Sydney Kale struck out 11 in six shutout innings, allowing just three singles
- Kale also went two-for-four at the plate with a double and three RBI
- Heaven Maness was three-for-three with a homer and two RBI
- Ragan Liles went two-for-four with a double, RBI and run scored
- Kaylee Hobgood added an RBI and scored a run
- Hannah Reeves, Raelynn Kramer and Jillian Thomas each added a hit and run scored

FIRST INNING

- Hobgood drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on a sacrifice
- She scored on an RBI double from Kale to make it 1-0

FOURTH INNING

- Liles started it with a leadoff double
- Maness followed with a two-run shot to left to put WU on top by three
- A Kramer single and Thomas walk put two more on for the 'Dogs
- Hobgood's RBI groundout plated Kramer to make it 4-0

SIXTH INNING

- Wingate scored four more in the sixth to end it
- A Thomas single and Danielle Kirchhofer walk put the first two on
- Kale's two-run single made it 6-0
- A Reeves RBI double pushed the lead to seven
- Liles followed with an RBI single to end it

WRAPUP

- Kale got the win, moving to 4-0
- She allowed just three singles while striking out 11 without a walk in six innings of work
- Lakyn Phillips took the loss, allowing eight runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings

GAME TWO | Wingate 9 USC Aiken 0 (6 innings)

KEYS STATS

- Wingate out-hit USC Aiken 15-4
- The 'Dogs had all four extra-base hits including both homers
- The Bulldogs left six on base; the Pacers stranded three
- WU had both stolen bases
- Aiken committed the only two errors in the game
- WU pitching struck out 10 without a walk; USCA had two strikeouts and no walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Savanna Brooks went three-for-four with a double, homer and three RBI, scoring twice
- Reeves was three-for-four with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored
- Kale and Liles both went two-for-four with an RBI and two runs
- Hannah Stevens added a double and an RBI
- Maness was two-for-three with a run scored
- Raechel Cutcher struck out seven in 4 1/3 shutout frames to earn the win
- Hali Scott struck out three in 1 2/3 innings for the save

SECOND INNING

- Brooks connected on a solo homer to center to start the scoring

THIRD INNING

- Maness reached on a one-out single, then stole second
- She scored on Kale's RBI single to make it 2-0

FIFTH INNING

- The 'Dogs scored four in the fifth to go on top by six
- Kale started things with a one-out single
- Reeves followed with a two-run homer to make it 4-0
- Liles and Brooks followed with singles
- A Stevens RBI double plated Liles
- Brooks scored on an error to put the 'Dogs on top 6-0

SIXTH INNING

- The Bulldogs scored three more times to end it in the sixth
- Singles from Maness and Reeves started the frame
- An RBI single from Liles made it 7-0
- Brooks followed with a two-run double to left center to end it

WRAPUP

- Cutcher got the win, moving to 3-1 on the year
- She allowed just four hits in 4 1/3 shutout frames, striking out seven
- Scott struck out three of the five she faced to earn the save in a 1 2/3 innings of work
- Payton Baker took the loss, allowing nine runs on 15 hits in 5 2/3 innings

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Tuesday, traveling to Pembroke to face Adelphi at 1:30 p.m. and UNCP at 4 p.m.
- WU travels to Columbus, Ga. for five games at the NFCA Division II Lead-Off Classic Friday through Sunday
- The 'Dogs return home March 1, opening SAC play at home against Newberry