Press Conference | Hali Scott, Raelynn Kramer, Jamie Stanclift

Wingate, N.C.----The top-seeded and 25th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs got a complete game effort from Hali Scott in the circle Thursday afternoon, while Raleynn Kramer provided the power at the plate, leading the top-seeded and 25th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs to a 3-2 victory over fourth-seeded Carson-Newman University on day one of the double-elimination South Atlantic Conference softball tournament championship round. Wingate advances to the winner's bracket, facing the winner of the LMU vs. Lenoir-Rhyne game Friday at 10:30 a.m. Carson-Newman will play an elimination game against the LMU-LR loser Friday at 1 p.m. Every game of the SAC Tournament championship series will take place at Wingate University.

KEY STATS

- Carson-Newman out-hit Wingate 9-6
- The 'Dogs had both extra-base hits including the lone homer
- Wingate committed two of the three errors
- C-N left eight on base; the Bulldogs stranded five
- WU pitching struck out seven and walked two; C-N had four strikeouts and three walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Scott allowed one earned run on nine hits in seven innings of work, striking out seven
- Kramer blasted a three-run homer to lead the offense
- Kaylee Hobgood added two hits and scored a run
- Damyia McFadden also had a pair of hits
- Scott contributed a double at the plate
- Savanna Brooks also scored a run

FIRST INNING

- Hobgood drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second when Brooks was hit by the pitch
- Kramer delivered with a two-out, three-run homer to right center, giving WU a 3-0 lead

SECOND INNING

- Syerra Rogers laid down a bunt single, while an error on the play allowed Mari Robbins to score

FIFTH INNING

- Robbins blooped an RBI single just over the leaping Brooks at shortstop to make it 3-2

SEVENTH INNING

- McCauley Bailey reached on a one-out single for the Eagles, but Scott induced a flyout after
- Robbins beat out an infield single, but pinch-runner Taylor Erb was caught in a rundown between second and third, tagged out to end the game

WRAPUP

- Scott got the win, moving to 8-5 on the year
- She allowed one earned run on nine hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking two
- Rogers took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings, striking out four and walking three

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Friday at 10:30 a.m. on day two of the championship finals
- The Bulldogs will face the winner of Friday afternoons Lenoir-Rhyne vs. LMU game
- The winner of Friday morning's game advances to Saturday, the final day of the tournament
- That team will need just one more win to claim the title