Aiken, S.C.----The 11th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning in game two of Thursday's NCAA Division II softball doubleheader at USC Aiken Thursday afternoon, prevailing 6-3 to split the doubleheader with the Pacers. USC Aiken walked off with a 4-3 victory in eight innings in the opener. The Bulldogs move to 21-6 overall, while the Pacers go to 14-7 on the season.

GAME ONE | USC AIKEN 4, #11 WINGATE 3 (8 Innings)

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit USC Aiken 10-9
- Each team had three extra-base hits; Aiken had the lone homer
- The Pacers left seven on base; the Bulldogs stranded five
- USCA committed the lone error of the game, but turned a pair of double plays
- Aiken pitching struck out eight without a walk; WU struck out four and walked one

KEY BULLDOGS

- Kaylee Hobgood went two-for-three with an RBI and run scored
- Isabella Kraemer was one-for-one with an RBI double
- Ragan Liles added a hit and drove in a run
- Savanna Brooks collected a pair of hits including a double
- Hannah Stevens and Katy Kahlich each had a hit and run scored
- Hali Scott allowed just one earned run in six innings of work

FIRST INNING

- An Austyn Dixon RBI double and Kate Newberry RBI single gave Aiken an early 2-0 lead

FIFTH INNING

- Stevens led off the fifth with a single, then moved to second on Kahlich's sacrifice
- An RBI single from Hobgood plated Stevens to make it 2-1

SEVENTH INNING

- Kahlich started the frame with a single, then went to second on Scott's sacrifice
- Kraemer's RBI double tied it at two and sent the game to extras

EIGHTH INNING

- Hobgood was placed on second to start the inning
- She scored on an RBI double from Liles to give Wingate a 3-2 lead
- Newberry answered in the bottom of the eighth for the Pacers with a walk-off two-run homer to left center

WRAPUP

- Payton Baker got the win, allowing three runs on 10 hits in eight innings, striking out eight
- Scott took the loss, allowing one earned run on five hits in six innings, striking out four  

GAME TWO | #11 WINGATE 6 USC AIKEN 3

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit USC Aiken7-4
- The Pacers had three of the five extra-base hits with all three homers
- The Bulldogs left five on base; Aiken stranded two
- The 'Dogs had the lone stolen base
- Wingate committed the only error in the contest
- USCA Pitching struck out seven without a walk; WU pitching struck out five and walked two

KEY BULLDOGS

- Liles had a double and two RBI to lead the offense
- Stevens added a hit and a pair of RBI
- Hobgood collected a pair of hits and drove in a run
- Brooks was one-for-two with two runs scored
- Laney McLaurin added a double
- Raechel Cutcher allowed just two hits in six innings of work to earn the win

SECOND INNING

- Back-to-back homers from Mallory Shaver and Newberry gave USC Aiken a 2-0 lead

FIFTH INNING

- McLaurin was hit by a pitch to start the inning
- Pinch-runner Riley Davis moved to second on a sacrifice, then scored on Hobgood's RBI groundout
- A solo shot from Jena Dewalt in the bottom of the frame gave the Pacers a 3-1 advantage

SIXTH INNING

- Brooks started the frame with a single, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Stevens to cut the lead to one

SEVENTH INNING

- McLaurin started the frame with a double, while Maness drew a walk
- Liles ripped a two-run double to center to give Wingate a 4-3 lead  
- An RBI single from Stevens stretched the lead to two
- A wild pitch allowed Jillian Thomas to score, giving Wingate a 6-3 lead

WRAPUP

- Cutcher got the win, moving to 6-1 on the year
- She allowed a run on two hits in six innings, striking out six without walking a batter
- Lakyn Phillips took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Friday, hosting a doubleheader against Lee at 1 p.m.