Wingate, N.C.----The top-seeded and 17th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs took the opening game 5-2 in the South Atlantic Conference softball championship series against Lincoln Memorial University Wednesday afternoon at the WU Softball Complex. The Bulldogs improve to 44-12 overall, needing just one more victory to claim the SAC Tournament title on Thursday. The Railsplitters fall to 34-23 on the season.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit LMU 9-5
- Each team had three extra-base hits; Lincoln Memorial had two of the three homers
- Each team left four on base
- The Railsplitters had the only two errors of the contest
- WU pitching struck out six and walked one; LMU had four strikeouts and a walk

KEY BULLDOGS

- Heaven Maness homered for the Bulldogs
- Kaylee Hobgood was two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored
- Savanna Brooks went two-for-three with a double and an RBI
- Raelynn Kramer added a hit, RBI and run scored
- Ragan Liles was two-for-three with a double and a run scored
- Alyssa Hall contributed a hit and run scored
- Raechel Cutcher went the distance, striking out six while allowing just two runs

SECOND INNING

- A Katie Tuggle solo homer gave Lincoln Memorial the early 1-0 lead
- Wingate scored four in the bottom of the frame to take a three-run advantage
- Liles started the inning with a double, then moved to third on a Hannah Reeves sacrifice bunt
- She scored on Kramer's RBI fielder's choice to tie it at one
- Hobgood's RBI single drove home Kamer to put the 'Dogs on top
- Brooks followed with an RBI single, with an error on the play allowing another run to score

FIFTH INNING

- Maness crushed a solo shot to right center to give the Bulldogs a 5-1 advantage

SIXTH INNING

- A Sterre den Duijn solo homer pulled the Railsplitters within three

SEVENTH INNING

- LMU got a one-out single in the top of the seventh
- Cutcher then induced a game-ending double play to secure the Wingate victory

WRAPUP

- Cutcher got the win, moving to 13-6 on the season
- She allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one
- Hayley Tamaro took the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits in four innings, striking out two and walking one

UP NEXT

- The two teams meet for the final day of the SAC Tournament Thursday at noon
- If Wingate wins the game, the 'Dogs claim the championship
- An LMU victory would force a third game at 2:30 p.m., with the winner claiming the title