WINGATE, N.C.---The Wingate University softball team swept Lander, 9-1 and 6-3 Sunday in a non-conference twinbill. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Wingate improves to 27-12 overall, while Lander drops to 11-27.
In the first game, Wingate posted nine runs on 19 hits to take the win. Seven Bulldog starters had multiple hits in the opener, led by freshman designated player LaRonda McClain, who went 4-for-4 with four singles and one run scored.
Lander struck first, as senior first baseman Ashlea Burdette stroked her first home run of the season over the left-field fence. Burdette led the visitors with a two-for-three plate performance.
Wingate scored four runs on six hits in the bottom of the second. Bulldog third baseman Hallie Pettigrew had the big hit for the hosts in the second inning, as she plated two runs with an RBI single.
The Bulldogs added three runs in the fourth inning and single spots in the fifth and sixth frames to conclude the first contest. In the fourth frame, junior catcher Courtney Wagner contributed an RBI single and senior outfielder Joy Henry supplied an RBI double.
Ashley Green won her 20th game with the complete game victory in the opener. The right-hander pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits. She struck out six and walked none. Lander freshman hurler Brittany Wallace took the loss. She tossed three innings, allowing four earned runs on nine hits.
In the second game, Wingate rallied to take the victory and complete the sweep. Lander led 3-2 after a three-run fourth inning. The Bearcats scored three runs on five hits and one Wingate error in the fourth inning. Lander freshman catcher Daisy Stewart and freshman designated player Megan Lowe both contributed RBI singles in the Bearcat fourth.
The Bulldogs scored two runs in the fifth inning and added two more for good measure in the sixth inning to take the come-from-behind triumph. In the Wingate fifth frame, the hosts scored two runs with two outs. Freshman first baseman Leyila Myers belted an RBI single to score senior second baseman Megan McPhail to make the score 3-3. McPhail had reached on a double.
Myers moved to third on a Courtney Wagner single. Joy Henry plated the game-winning run with an RBI single through the Lander left side of the infield. Hallie Pettigrew and McPhail chipped in RBI in the Wingate sixth inning to give the hosts a cushion.
Wagner, Henry and senior center fielder Kimee Lewis had two hits each for the Bulldogs in game two. Henry and Lewis joined three teammates with one RBI each. Wagner, Lewis and McPhail had doubles for the Bulldogs in the nightcap.
Burdette and freshman third baseman Natalie Smith had two hits each for the Bearcats in game two. Stewart and Lowe had one RBI each.
Green won game two in relief to move her overall record to 21-9. In 3 1/3 innings of scoreless work, Green gave up two hits. She struck out two and walked one. Lander junior pitcher Jenna Kellett took the loss in the nightcap. In five-plus innings, Kellett allowed six runs on nine hits. She walked two.
