Columbus, Ga.----The Wingate University Bulldogs capped day two of the 2023 NFCA Lead-Off Classic with a 4-3 victory over Columbus State, after opening the day with a 5-1 setback against #25 Wilmington in NCAA Division II softball action. Wingate moves to 15-5 overall, winning 11 of its last 12 games.

GAME ONE | #25 WILMINGTON 5 WINGATE 1

KEY STATS

- Wilmington out-hit Wingate 6-2
- The Wildcats had the lone extra-base hit of the contest
- The Bulldogs had the lone error
- Wingate left five on base; Wilmington stranded two
- WU pitching struck out five and walked three; Wilmington had two strikeouts and four walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Kaylee Hobgood had a hit and an RBI for the 'Dogs
- Raelynn Kramer scored a run
- Jillian Thomas added a hit
- Sydney Kale struck out three in 4 1/3 innings of work

FIRST INNING

- An RBI single from Haley Downing gave the Wildcats an early lead

FIFTH INNING

- Kramer drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on a Hannah Stevens sacrifice
- Hobgood's RBI single plated Kramer to tie it
- An RBI single from Bri Coyle in the bottom of the frame put the Wildcats back on top
- Taylor Gillis followed with an RBI single to make it 3-1

SIXTH INNING

- A two-run double from Emma Zimmerman gave Wilmington a four-run cushion

WRAPUP

- Kylee Gunkel got the win, allowing a run on two hits in seven innings
- Kale took the loss, allowing two earned runs on two hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking one

GAME TWO | WINGATE 4 COLUMBUS STATE 3

KEY STATS

- Each team had eight hits
- Each team had two extra-base hits; the 'Dogs had the lone homer
- Each team left seven on base
- The Cougars committed four of the six errors
- WU pitching struck out four without a walk; CSU had three strikeouts and no walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Savanna Brook was two-for-three with a homer and two runs scored
- Stevens went two-for-three with a double and an RBI
- Thomas added a hit, RBI and run scored
- Ragan Liles also scored a run for the 'Dogs
- Raechel Cutcher allowed just one run in 4 2/3 innings to pick up the win
- Kale worked the final 2 1/3 frames to earn the save

SECOND INNING

- A Brooks single, followed by a CSU error put two on base for the Bulldogs
- Stevens ripped an RBI single to center to plate Brooks
- Thomas drove home Liles with an RBI groundout to make it 2-0

FOURTH INNING

- An RBI double from Kenzie Bayer cut the WU lead in half

FIFTH INNING

- Brooks put the 'Dogs back on top by two with a solo shot in the fifth

SIXTH INNING

- Bayer pulled the Cougars back within a run with an RBI single
- Thomas reached on a two-out CSU error in the bottom of the frame
- She scored when Hobgood reached on an error to put WU on top 4-2

SEVENTH INNING

- An error and Hannah Rose Corbin RBI double pulled Columbus State within a run in the top of the seventh
- Kale induced a foulout to end the game

WRAPUP

- Cutcher got the win, moving to 6-1 on the year
- She allowed a run on six hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out three without a walk
- Corbin took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings of work

UP NEXT

- Wingate wraps up the NFCA Lead-Off Classic Sunday at 9 a.m. against Gannon
- The 'Dogs return home Wednesday to open SAC play against Newberry