Wingate, N.C.----The second-seeded and 17th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs played 17 innings of softball Friday afternoon, dropping the opener 2-1 in eight innings against Lenoir-Rhyne before winning 7-6 in nine innings against Francis Marion in an elimination game. The 'Dogs move to 46-16 on the season, advancing to day three of the regional Saturday against Lenoir-Rhyne. Wingate will need a pair of victories against the Bears to advance to the super regionals.

GAME ONE | LENOIR-RHYNE 2 WINGATE 1 (8 Innings)

KEY STATS

- Each team had seven hits
- LR had two of the three extra-base hits including the lone homer
- Each team had a stolen base
- Neither team committed an error
- Each team left seven on base
- WU pitching struck out 11 without a walk; LR had three strikeouts and a walk

KEY BULLDOGS

- Raechel Cutcher went eight innings, allowing just two runs while striking out 11
- Kaylee Hobgood had two hits and an RBI
- Hali Scott added a pair of hits
- Hannah Reeves contributed a double

FIRST INNING

- A Julia Mardigian solo homer in the first got the Bears on the board

FIFTH INNING

- Reeves led off the fifth with a double to left center
- Pinch-runner Bella Kraemer moved to third on a groundout
- She scored on Hobgood's RBI single to make it 1-1

EIGHTH INNING

- A Cassiday Wall two-out RBI single gave the Bears a 2-1 advantage

WRAPUP

- Faith Carrigan got the win, allowing a run on seven hits in eight innings, striking out three and walking one
- Cutcher took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits in eight innings, striking out 11 without a walk

GAME TWO | WINGATE 7 FRANCIS MARION 6 (9 Innings)

KEY STATS

- Each team had nine hits
- Each team had three extra-base hits and one homer
- FMU left seven on base; Wingate stranded six
- The Patriots had three of the four stolen bases
- Francis Marion committed three of the four errors in the game
- WU pitching struck out five and walked three; FMU had six strikeouts and four walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Savanna Brooks was two-for-five with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored
- Reeves went two-for-three with a pair of RBI
- Hobgood added two hits including a double, driving in a run and scoring twice
- Maness was two-for-five with a double, RBI and run scored
- Danielle Kirchhofer added a hit and a run scored
- Alyssa Hall also scored a run for the 'Dogs
- Cutcher went eight more innings, striking out three while allowing four runs

SECOND INNING

- A Smith RBI single, followed by a double-steal gave FMU an early 2-0 lead

THIRD INNING

- A Rosson sacrifice fly put the Patriots on top by three
- Wingate answered with four in the bottom of the frame to take the lead
- A walk and Kirchhofer single put two on to start the frame
- Hobgood ripped an RBI double to right to plate Hall and get the 'Dogs on the board
- Brooks followed with a towering three-run shot to left center to put WU on top 4-3

FIFTH INNING

- FMU regained the lead on a two-out, two-run single from Glanz
- Maness started the bottom of the frame with a double to right center
- She went to third on a flyout to deep center from Scott
- Maness scored when Reeves reached on an RBI fielder's choice to tie it at five

SEVENTH INNING

- A Karacson solo shot put the Patriots back on top 6-5 in the top of the seventh
- Brooks started the bottom of the inning with a single, advancing to second on an error on the play
- After a flyout and strikeout, Reeves came to the plate with two outs and the season on the line
- She ripped an RBI single to center, plating Brooks to make it 6-6

NINTH INNING

- Cutcher shut down the Patriots in the eighth and ninth inning
- Hobgood led off the bottom of the ninth with a single
- Brooks ripped a hot shot to short that was misplayed, putting runners on first and second
- Maness lined the walk-off RBI single to center, plating Hobgood to give the 'Dogs the win

WRAPUP

-  Cutcher got the win, moving to 15-8
- She allowed four runs on seven hits in eight innings of work, striking out three and walking two
- The senior has gone 23 innings through the first two days of regionals, allowing six runs while striking out 21
- Jenna Walling took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings, striking out five and walking two

UP NEXT

- Wingate will face Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at noon
- If the 'Dogs win, the teams will meet again at 2:30 p.m. to decide who moves onto the super regionals