SOFTBALL NEWS

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

Office of Sports Information

Sports Release                                                                                                           March 21, 2008

LMU and Wingate Split SAC Softball Twin Bill Friday

Wingate, NC -- The Wingate University softball team split a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader with Lincoln Memorial University Friday afternoon at the Wingate University softball complex. The host Lady Bulldogs won the first game 4-3, while the LMU Lady Railsplitters took the nightcap 12-6 

With the split, Wingate is 21-11 overall and 5-1 in the SAC. Lincoln Memorial is 22-9 overall and 1-3 in the SAC. The Lady  Railsplitters pick up their first-ever SAC victory with the game two win.

Game #1 – Wingate 4, Lincoln Memorial 3

The Lady Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning and held on for the game one victory. Wingate freshman pitcher Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) notched her 11th victory, scattering eight hits and allowing no earned runs in the opener.

Lincoln Memorial struck first, plating one run in the top of the second inning. Senior shortstop Alisa Burk (Blaine, Wash.) singled to start the frame. On the next play, she moved to third on an error. Burk scored on a passed ball.

Wingate took the lead for good with the three-spot in the bottom of the third inning. Bulldog junior left fielder Heather Winchester (Waxhaw, N.C.) started the third with an infield single. One out later, Winchester moved to second when junior third baseman Hallie Pettigrew (Uniontown, Ohio) reached on a bunt single.

Both Winchester and Pettigrew moved up a base when freshman designated player Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) reached on an LMU error. Winchester scored on a bases-loaded walk to junior catcher Jamie Millen (Monroe, N.C.). Pettigrew scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Courtney Wagner (Myrtle Beach, S.C.).

The Lady Bulldogs added a huge insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Winchester drew a full-count walk. She moved to third on back-to-back singles by sophomore center fielder LaRonda McClain (Kings Mountain, N.C.) and Pettigrew. Winchester scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Chavis. 

Lincoln Memorial made things very interesting in the sixth inning, plating two unearned runs on two hits and a Wingate error. The big hit was a two-RBI single by sophomore first baseman Alicia MacIntyre (Muncie, Ind.). 

Pettigrew led the Lady Bulldogs at the plate with a perfect four-for-four effort. Winchester contributed a two-for-two performance with two runs scored. The Bulldogs left 10 runners on base in the first game. For LMU, freshman center fielder Jackie Adams (Columbus, Ohio) was three-for-four. Burk was two-for-four with two runs scored.

Blankenship improved to 11-5 overall with the complete game win. She allowed three unearned runs on eight hits (eight singles). A two-time SAC Pitcher of the Week honoree, Blankenship struck out five and walked one. 

LMU sophomore pitcher Sara Henn (Kettering, Ohio) took the loss. In six innings of work, Henn gave up four runs (two earned) on nine hits. Henn struck out two and walked five. The pitch count was even, as Henn threw 107 pitches to Blankenship’s 106.

Game #2 – Lincoln Memorial 12, Wingate 6 

The Lady Railsplitters scored nine runs in the top of the fifth inning to pick up a come-from-behind victory over the Lady Bulldogs. In the fateful fifth frame, Lincoln Memorial sent 14 batters to the plate. LMU scored nine runs on eight hits and three Wingate errors to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 10-3 advantage. Henn had a two-RBI single, while freshman left fielder Nakeshia Boggs (Nicklesville, Va.) added a two-RBI double for Lincoln Memorial in the fifth inning. 

Wingate took an early 3-0 lead with one run in the second inning and two tallies in the third inning. Freshman second baseman Gina Ager (Columbia, Md.) had an RBI double in the Lady Bulldog second inning. In Wingate’s half of the third inning, Millen contributed a two-RBI single.

The seventh inning was very eventful, as LMU scored two runs in the top of the seventh and Wingate responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Lady Railsplitters were very opportunistic, turning one hit and two Wingate errors into two runs in the seventh frame. LMU sophomore catcher Devin Sponseller (Delaware, Ohio) had a two-RBI single in the seventh. 

In the Wingate portion of the seventh inning, Chavis started things with a double down the left-field line. Millen followed with her third home run of the season over the left-field fence. The Lady Bulldogs plated one additional run on an RBI single by Ager. 

Five LMU batters had two hits each in the nightcap. Henn tallied the most RBI, as the pitcher/infielder was two-for-five with a double and three RBI. Henn’s two-bagger gives her a team-best 15 doubles on the season. She also pitched one inning of one-hit, one-run relief in game two. 

Ager was three-for-four with a double and two RBI for the Lady Bulldogs in game two. Millen was two-for-four with the home run and four RBI. McClain added two hits as well in the nightcap. 

Lincoln Memorial senior Amanda Wampler (Powell, Tenn.) picked up the pitching win to improve to 8-4 overall on the 2008 season. Wampler went six innings, allowing five runs on 11 hits. She struck out two and walked one. Wingate sophomore pitcher Meredith Harris (Kittrell, N.C.) took the loss. In 4 1/3 innings, Harris gave up seven runs (only three earned) on seven hits. Harris fanned three and walked three. 

Wingate will enjoy the Easter weekend before returning to SAC action Thursday, March 27. The Lady Bulldogs will host number 20 Lenoir-Rhyne College Thursday (2 p.m. first pitch) at the Wingate University softball complex. Lincoln Memorial returns home Wednesday to entertain local SAC rival Tusculum College at 2 p.m.

-LMU-

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Head Coach:  Dan Burns

Phone:  (423) 869-6242