Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs clinched their third straight regular season SAC title Saturday afternoon, sweeping the Mars Hill University Lions in South Atlantic Conference softball action. Wingate won by scores of 4-0 at 9-2 to improve to 31-17 overall and 18-4 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 21-21 overall and 11-11 in league play. The Bulldogs have won three straight outright regular season SAC titles, going 58-12 in league play over the last three seasons.

GAME ONE | WINGATE 4 MARS HILL 0

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Mars Hill 8-4
- The Bulldogs had the lone extra-base hit
- The Lions left nine on base; the 'Dogs stranded seven
- Each team committed two errors
- WU pitching struck out three and walked three; MHU struck out two and walked two

KEY BULLDOGS

- Kaylee Hobgood went three-for-four with an RBI
- Damyia McFadden was three-for-three with an RBI
- Hali Scott and Raelynn Kramer each added an RBI
- Hannah Stevens was two-for-three with a double and a run scored
- Jillian Thomas tossed seven shutout frames, allowing just four singles

SECOND INNING

- Laney McLaurin drew a two-out walk, then moved to third on a McFadden single
- She scored on Hobgood's RBI single to give Wingate a 1-0 lead

FIFTH INNING

- Savanna Brooks drew a leadoff walk, then moved to third on a Stevens single
- Scott's sacrifice fly plated Brooks to stretch the lead to two
- Kramer followed with a sacrifice fly to drove home Stevens, making it 3-0

SIXTH INNING

- McLaurin reached on a one-out error
- McFadden's RBI single put the 'Dogs on top 4-0

WRAPUP

- Thomas got the win, moving to 14-6 on the year
- She allowed just four singles in seven shutout frames, striking out three
- Blyth Freeman took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings of work

GAME TWO | WINGATE 9 MARS HILL 2

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Mars Hill 10-4
- Each team had an extra-base hit; the 'Dogs had the lone homer
- The Bulldogs left seven on base; the Lions stranded five
- Mars Hill had the lone error of the contest
- WU pitching struck out eight and walked two; MHU had one strikeout and five walk

KEY BULLDOGS

- Stevens homered, drove in three and scored two runs
- Kramer was two-for-four with two RBI and a run scored
- Jamie Horodecki added a hit, two RBI and a run scored
- Hobgood went three-for-three with an RBI and run scored
- McFadden added a hit and drove in a run
- Brooks scored a pair of runs
- Jaden Burns added a hit and scored a run
- Scott struck out eight in seven innings of work to earn the win

THIRD INNING

- A Maia Sholter two-run double gave the Lions a 2-0 lead
- A McFadden single and Hobgood walk put two on for Wingate in the bottom of the frame
- Stevens launched a three-run homer to left center to give the 'Dogs a 3-2 lead

FIFTH INNING

- Singles from Hobgood and Stevens, along with a hit batter loaded the bases
- Kramer's two-run single made it 5-2
- Horodecki added a pinch-hit two-run single to stretch the lead to four
- McFadden drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Burns
- Hobgood's RBI single put the 'Dogs on top 9-2

WRAPUP

- Scott got the win, moving to 6-4 on the year
- She allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings, striking out eight
- Rebekah Howard took the loss, allowing nine runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Sunday, hosting Mount Olive at 1 p.m. on Senior Day