Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior infielder Savanna Brooks blasted three homers Wednesday afternoon, driving in six runs to lead the #12 Bulldogs to a sweep over #18 Lenoir-Rhyne University in South Atlantic Conference softball action. The 'Dogs won the opener 12-3 while prevailing 5-1 in game two to push their winning streak to nine and snap a 13-game Lenoir-Rhyne winning streak. Wingate improves to 29-6 overall and 9-1 in the SAC, while the Bears fall to 27-7 overall and 4-2 in league play.

GAME ONE | #12 WINGATE 12, #18 LENOIR-RHYNE 3 (6 Innings)

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Lenoir-Rhyne 12-4
- Each team had four extra-base hits; the 'Dogs blasted four of the seven homers
- The Bulldogs left two on base; the Bears did not strand a runner
- LR committed three of the four errors
- Wingate had both stolen bases in the contest
- WU pitching struck out nine without a walk; LR had eight strikeouts and a walk

KEY BULLDOGS

- Brooks had three homers and six RBI to lead the offense
- Sydney Kale added a homer, four RBI and two runs scored
- Kayle Hobgood went four-for-four with two RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored
- Raelynn Kramer added a hit and scored two runs
- Ragan Liles and Heaven Maness each added a hit and run scored
- Raechel Cutcher went the distance, allowing just two earned runs while striking out nine

FIRST INNING

- Hobgood led things off with a single
- Brooks connected on a two-run blast to put the 'Dogs on top 2-0

SECOND INNING

- A solo shot from Cassidy Wall cut the lead to one

THIRD INNING

- Lauren Rakes led off the third with a solo shot to tie it at two

FOURTH INNING

- Wingate plated six runs in the fourth inning to regain the lead
- Singles from Maness and Liles, along with a Kramer walk loaded the bases
- Hobgood's two-run single gave the Bulldogs a 4-2 advantage
- Kale connected on a three-run shot to right center to push the lead to five
- Brooks followed with a solo blast to center, making it 8-2

SIXTH INNING

- An LR error and Hobgood single put two on for the 'Dogs
- Kale plated Kramer when she reached on an error to make it 9-3
- Brooks followed by lining a three-run shot to left, ending the game at 12-3
- Her third homer of the day was the 35th of her career, just one away from tying Wingate's all-time career home run record

WRAPUP

- Cutcher got the win, moving to 9-1 on the year
- She allowed two earned runs on four hits in six innings, striking out nine without a walk
- The league leader in wins and ERA has 35 strikeouts and two walks in her last three starts, allowing four earned runs in 20 innings of work
- Rakes took the loss, allowing eight runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out six

GAME TWO | #12 WINGATE 5, #18 LENOIR-RHYNE 1

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit LR 5-4
- Each team had one extra-base hit
- The Bears left five on base; the Bulldogs stranded four
- Each team had one error
- WU pitching struck out nine and walked one; LR had six strikeouts and two walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Maness and Katy Kahlich each went one-for-two with an RBI and run scored
- Kramer added a double and an RBI
- Liles also drove in a run
- Brooks and Hannah Stevens scored a run apiece
- Kale struck out nine in 5 2/3 shutout frames to earn the win

SECOND INNING

- A Wingate throwing error allowed Wood to score from third, giving Lenoir-Rhyne a 1-0 lead

FOURTH INNING

- Wingate scored four in the fourth to take the lead
- Brooks was hit by a pitch to start the inning, while an LR error put runners on second and third
- An RBI single from Maness tied it at one
- Kahlich followed with an RBI single to plate Stevens and put the 'Dogs on top
- A sacrifice fly from Liles extended the lead to two
- Kramer added an RBI double to right, driving home Kahlich to make it 4-1

FIFTH INNING

- Hobgood drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on a Kale single
- Hobgood went to third on a deep flyout from Brooks, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-1

WRAPUP

- Kale got the win, moving to 7-0 on the year
- She allowed two hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings, striking out nine and walking one
- Madison Wilson took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in four innings, striking out three

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back home Saturday, hosting Anderson for a 1 p.m. doubleheader