Wingate, N.C.----The top-seeded and 16th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs opened tournament play with a pair of victories Friday afternoon, taking down Anderson and Carson-Newman in South Atlantic Conference softball tournament action at the WU Softball Complex. Wingate opened things with a 4-3 victory over Anderson, while following with a 4-2 win over Carson-Newman. The 'Dogs move to 42-11 overall and are the only team in the WU portion of the bracket without a loss.

GAME ONE | #16 WINGATE 4 ANDERSON 3

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Anderson 8-4
- The 'Dogs had four of the six extra-base hits; each team had two homers
- The Bulldogs left six on base; the Trojans stranded four
- Anderson had the lone error of the contest
- WU pitching struck out 12 and walked three; AU had six strikeouts and a walk

KEY BULLDOGS

- Ragan Liles was three-for-three with two doubles and a homer
- Heaven Maness also homered for the Bulldogs
- Jillian Thomas contributed a hit and an RBI, while also notching the win
- Raelynn Kramer also drove in a run
- Danielle Kirchhofer added a hit and a run scored
- Raechel Cutcher struck out 12 in six innings of work and earned the save

SECOND INNING

- A Liles solo shot to center got Wingate on the board

FOURTH INNING

- Maness put the 'Dogs on top by two with a solo blast in the fourth

SIXTH INNING

- Maddie Carpenter's two-run homer tied it at two
- Morgan Charter followed with a solo shot to put the Trojans on top 3-2
- The 'Dogs answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead
- Reeves drew a leadoff walk, while a Maness sacrifice bunt moved pinch-runner Bella Kraemer to third
- An RBI groundout from Kramer allowed Kraemer to score to tie it at three
- A Kirchhofer single and Liles double put runners on second and third
- Thomas plated Kirchhofer with an RBI single to give WU a 4-3 advantage

SEVENTH INNING

- A pair of singles put two on with one out for the Trojans in the final frame
- Cutcher re-entered, striking out the final two batters of the game to secure the win

WRAPUP

- Thomas got the win, tossing a shutout frame in relief to move to 10-2
- Cutcher worked the first 5 1/3 innings, then came back in to get the final two outs
- She allowed three runs on just two hits in six innings, striking out 12 while notching her third save
- Carson Hobbs took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in three innings of work

GAME TWO | #16 WINGATE 4 CARSON-NEWMAN 2

KEY STATS

- Carson-Newman out-hit Wingate 8-5
- The Bulldogs had two of the three extra-base hits including the lone homer
- The 'Dogs left eight on base; the Eagles stranded seven
- WU had two of the three errors in the contest  
- Wingate had both stolen bases
- WU pitching struck out six without a walk; C-N had four strikeouts and six walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Brooks drove in all four runs with her grand slam
- Kaylee Hobgood went two-for-two with two stolen bases and a run scored
- Kirchhofer added a double and a run scored
- Alyssa Hall also scored a run
- Cutcher worked the final 3 2/3 innings without allowing a run to earn another save
- Hali Scott worked two innings to earn the win
- Thomas added 1 1/3 shutout frames

SECOND INNING

- A Hall walk and Kirchhofer double put two on with two outs for the 'Dogs
- Hobgood drew a walk to load the bases
- Brooks crushed the first pitch of her at-bat over the fence in left for a grand slam

THIRD INNING

- A Matyasovsky RBI single, along with a WU error cut the lead in half

SEVENTH INNING

- The Eagles got a leadoff double in the top of the seventh
- Cutcher got a groundout and a flyout before striking out the final batter of the game

WRAPUP

- Scott got the win, moving to 11-3 on the season
- She allowed one earned run on four hits in two innings, striking out two
- Cutcher tossed 3 2/3 shutout frames, striking four while giving up just two hits

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday on the final day of the SAC Tournament
- Carson-Newman and Newberry meet at 10 a.m. to start the action
- The winner of that contest will then face the Bulldogs at 12:30 p.m.
- If Wingate wins that game, the 'Dogs advance to the championship series next week
- A loss would force one final elimination game at 3 p.m.