Harrogate, Tenn.----The 17th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs claimed their first regular season conference title since 2009, splitting a doubleheader at Lincoln Memorial University in South Atlantic Conference softball action. Wingate clinched the title with an 8-2 win in game two, after dropping the opener 4-1. The Bulldogs move to 40-11 overall and 18-6 in the SAC, while LMU goes to 31-22 overall and 15-9 in league play.

GAME ONE | LMU 4 WINGATE 1

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit LMU 7-4
- The Railsplitters had three of the four extra-base hits
- The 'Dogs left nine on base; Lincoln Memorial stranded eight
- The Bulldogs had four of the six errors in the contest
- LMU pitching had two strikeouts and a walk; WU had three strikeouts and four walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Heaven Maness drove in a run for the Bulldogs
- Alyssa Hall was two-for-three with a run scored
- Hannah Stevens went two-for-three with a double
- Hali Scott tossed two shutout frames with a strikeout
- Jillian Thomas allowed two earned runs on four hits in four innings

WRAPUP

- Hayley Tamaro got the win, allowing a run on seven hits in seven innings
- Thomas took the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits in four innings, falling to 9-2

GAME TWO | WINGATE 8 LMU 2

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit LMU 11-5
- The 'Dogs had eight of the 10 extra-base hits with three of the four homers
- LMU left nine on base; the Bulldogs stranded five
- Wingate had two of the three errors
- The 'Dogs had the lone stolen base
- WU pitching struck out eight and walked four; LMU had two strikeouts and two walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Stevens blasted a pair of homers for the Bulldogs
- Savanna Brooks was two-for-four with a double, homer and two RBI
- Maness went two-for-four with a double, RBI and run scored
- Katy Kahlich added a double, RBI and two runs scored
- Hannah Reeves contributed a double, RBI and run scored
- Hall added two hits including a double, scoring a run
- Raechel Cutcher went the distance to earn the win, striking out eight

THIRD INNING

- A two-run homer from Sterre den Duijn gave LMU a 2-0 lead

FOURTH INNING

- Stevens got Wingate on the board in the top of the fourth with a solo homer

FIFTH INNING

- Hall led off the frame with a single
- She scored on an RBI double from Kahlich to make it 2-2
- An RBI single from Maness gave the 'Dogs a 3-2 advantage
- Reeves plated Maness with an RBI double to give Wingate a two-run lead

SIXTH INNING

- Stevens led off the frame with a solo shot to make it 5-2
- Liles singled, stole second, then scored on an LMU error to push the lead to four
- A two-run homer from Brooks gave the Bulldogs an 8-2 advantage

WRAPUP

- Cutcher got the win, moving to 12-5 on the year
- She allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking four
- Tamaro took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings of work

UP NEXT

- Wingate is the number one seed in next week's SAC Tournament
- The Bulldogs will host opening round games Thursday through Saturday
- The full bracket will be announced on Saturday