Wingate, N.C.----The second-seeded and 17th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs made more history Saturday afternoon, taking down third-seeded and 25th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University twice to advance to the NCAA Division II softball super regionals. The Bulldogs won the opener 6-2 to force one final game, then prevailed 4-1 in the finale to improve to 48-14 and move on to face North Georgia in the super regionals. The Bears end their season at 38-14. In addition to making their first-ever super regional, the 'Dogs also establish a new program record with 48 victories this year.

GAME ONE | WINGATE 6 LENOIR-RHYNE 2

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Lenoir-Rhyne 9-5
- Each team had two extra-base hits; the 'Dogs had the lone homer
- The Bulldogs left 10 on base; the Bears stranded three
- Lenoir-Rhyne committed all four errors in the game
- The 'Dogs also had all six stolen bases
- WU pitching struck out six without a walk; LR struck out six and walked two

KEY BULLDOGS

- Raechel Cutcher went the distance, allowing just two runs while striking out six
- Jillian Thomas drove in three runs with an inside-the-park homer
- Hannah Reeves added a double and an RBI
- Savanna Brooks was two-for-two with an RBI, run scored and three stolen bases
- Kaylee Hobgood added two hits, three stolen bases and a run scored
- Ragan Liles also scored a run

SECOND INNING

- An RBI double from Jackson gave the Bears a 1-0 lead

FIFTH INNING

- Hobgood lined a one-out single to center, then stole second
- She moved to third on a Brooks single, then scored on a double steal to tie it at one
- A sacrifice fly from Reeves plated Brooks to put the 'Dogs on top

SIXTH INNING

- An LR error and Danielle Kirchhofer single put two on with two outs for Wingate
- An RBI single from Brooks drove home Katy Kahlich to make it 3-1

SEVENTH INNING

- A hit batter and error put two on with two outs
- Thomas ripped a liner down the leftfield line that got past a diving left fielder, allowing her to round the bases for a three-run inside-the-park homer

WRAPUP

- Cutcher got the win, moving to 16-8
- She allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out six without a walk, needing just 77 pitches
- Morgan Beeler took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits in seven innings of work

GAME TWO | WINGATE 4 LENOIR-RHYNE 1

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Lenoir-Rhyne 10-3 in the second game
- Each team had two extra-base hits
- The Bulldogs left six on base; the Bears stranded three
- Each team had a stolen base
- Lenoir-Rhyne committed the only error of the contest
- WU pitching struck out seven and walked two; LR had four strikeouts and four walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Cutcher worked seven more innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven
- Hobgood was two-for-three with two RBI
- Hannah Stevens went two-for-three with an RBI and run scored
- Brooks added a double and an RBI
- Thomas had a hit and scored a run; Reeves also scored a run

SECOND INNING

- Reeves drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on a Thomas single
- An RBI single from Stevens drove home Reeves to get the 'Dogs on the board
- Hobgood followed with a two-run single, driving home Thomas and Stevens to make it 3-0

FOURTH INNING

- Talon LaClair led off the fourth with a triple, then scored on a Cassidy Wall RBI double to make it 3-1

SIXTH INNING

- Kahlich reached on a one-out single
- Brooks followed with an RBI double to left center, allowing pinch-runner Savannah Lampley to score from first to put WU on top by three

SEVENTH INNING

- Working her 37th inning since Thursday, Cutcher started the seventh back-to-back three-pitch strikeouts
- She wrapped things up by inducing an infield flyout to secure the historic Bulldog victory

WRAPUP

- Cutcher notched her 18th win of the year by going the distance once again
- She allowed a run on three hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking two
- The All-Region right-hander threw 37 of Wingate's 38 innings during the regional
- Cutcher threw seven innings Thursday, then went 16 innings Friday before tossing 14 more Saturday
- She allowed just nine runs while striking out 34 and walking just four
- Cutcher started her week with a one-hit shutout against FMU, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning
- She capped it with the three-hitter in the finale
- Faith Carrigan took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits in four innings

UP NEXT

- Wingate is onto North Georgia for the three-game series in the super regionals
- Game one is set for Thursday, May 18 at 2 p.m. in Dahlonega, Ga.