Wingate, N.C.----The top-seeded and seventh-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs remain unblemished in the 2024 South Atlantic Conference softball tournament, prevailing 2-1 against fifth-seeded Tusculum University on day two of tourney action. The Bulldogs improve to 46-7 overall, while the Pioneers fall to 30-21 on the season. Wingate advances to the final day of the opening round of the tournament, needing one more win to advance to the championship series. The 'Dogs have won 27 of their last 28 games.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Tusculum 4-2
- The Bulldogs had three of the four extra-base hits; each team homered
- The 'Dogs left five on base; the Pioneers stranded two
- Each team committed an error
- WU pitching struck out 12 without a walk; TU had seven strikeouts and one walk

KEY BULLDOGS

- Hali Scott went the distance in the circle, striking out 12 while also driving in a run
- Ragan Liles added a solo homer for the Bulldogs
- Laney McLaurin contributed a double
- Savanna Brooks was hit by a pitch and drew a walk, scoring a run for the 'Dogs

FIRST INNING

- Brooks drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the first
- She scored when Scott ripped an RBI double to left center, making it 1-0

THIRD INNING

- Sammy Jimenez led off the third with a solo shot to center, tying it at one

FOURTH INNING

- Liles led off the frame with a towering shot down the leftfield line, putting the 'Dogs on top 2-1

WRAPUP

- Scott got the win, moving to 15-4 on the year
- She allowed a run on just two hits in seven innings of work, striking out 12 without a walk
- Scott retired 12 of the last 13 batters she faced, with the lone base runner reaching via error
- She struck out the first five batters she faced on the day
- Scott had at least one punch out in each frame, with multiple strikeouts four times
- Emily Sappington took the loss, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings, striking out seven

UP NEXT

- Wingate is onto the final day of the opening round of the SAC Tournament
- The Bulldogs will take the field Sunday at noon against the winner of the Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Tusculum game
- The 'Dogs can punch their ticket to championship weekend with a victory in that contest
- If Wingate loses the opener, the teams will meet against Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
- If the Bulldogs pick up a win Sunday, they will host the championship series next weekend