Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University softball team split a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader with Newberry College Saturday afternoon at the Wingate University softball facility. The visiting Indians won the first game 3-2 in eight innings, while the host Bulldogs rebounded to take game 10-2 in six innings.

With the split, Wingate is 29-11 overall and 9-5 in the SAC. Newberry is 17-29 overall and 3-11 in the SAC. Both teams will participate in the 2005 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament Friday through Sunday at Cherry Park in Rock Hill, S.C. Pairings will be announced Monday morning.
 
Game #1 – Newberry 3, Wingate 2 (eight innings)
 
The Indians turned five double plays in the first game, snapping a seven-game losing slide with the victory. In the eighth inning, Newberry sophomore designated player Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) was placed on second base (international tie-breaker). Kirby moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. She scored later in the inning on an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.).

Wingate could not score in the home half of the eighth inning. Bulldog senior third baseman Carey Bumgardner (Mechanicsville, Va.) started the extra frame on second base. She moved to third on a fly out. After senior shortstop Cameron Langston (Goldsboro, N.C.) reached on a fielder’s choice, the Indians turned their fifth and final double play of the game to take the win.

The Bulldogs tied the game in dramatic fashion, scoring a single run in the bottom of the seventh inning to knot the contest at 2-2. Wingate junior designated player Carrie Rountree (Fayetteville, Ga.) reached on an error to start the seventh frame. Freshman Brittney Howell (Jefferson, S.C.) entered the game to run for Rountree.
 
Howell moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on a double by senior outfielder Amy Parmalee (Norwalk, Conn.). One out later, Parmalee moved to third on a wild pitch. A walk to junior center fielder Grace Cunningham (Camden, S.C.) put runners on the corners. Bumgardner hit a bullet to right field that was caught by Newberry freshman outfielder Ashley Marine (Peachtree City, Ga.), setting the stage for extra innings.
 
One of three seniors honored in pre-game ceremonies, Amy Parmalee was two-for-three with two RBI for the Bulldogs. Parmalee hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning (her third of the season), cutting Newberry’s lead to 2-1. She was the only Wingate player with multiple hits in game one.
 
Newberry sophomore center fielder Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) was two-for-four with two doubles for the Indians in the opener. Jackson doubled and scored to lead off the first inning, giving the visitors an early 1-0 lead. She doubled with one out in the third inning and tallied on a Wingate error to make it 2-0 Indians.
 
Indian senior pitcher Kayce McLeod (Newberry, S.C.) picked up the first game win. She allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in eight innings of work. Wingate junior Ashley Green (Charleston, S.C.) took the loss for the Bulldogs. She gave up three runs (only one earned) on five hits. She struck out seven and walked none.
 
Game #2 – Wingate 10, Newberry 2 (six innings)

The Bulldogs rebounded for 10 runs on 13 hits to take the nightcap 10-2 in six innings. In the bottom of the first inning, Langston blasted a three-run homer to left field. Langston’s fourth home run of the season gave the hosts a 3-0 lead they would not relinquish.
 
Five Bulldogs had two hits each in the nightcap. Wingate’s offense was spread throughout the line-up, as seven players knocked in runs. Wingate scored eight runs in the first three innings to put the game out of reach early.
 
Langston was two-for-four with the home run and three RBI in the nightcap. She was the only Bulldog with multiple RBI. Wingate junior first baseman Sarah Carleton (Powhatan, Va.) was two-for-two with one RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore second baseman Megan McPhail (Fayetteville, N.C.) and sophomore catcher Mandi Chester (Charlotte, N.C.) both contributed RBI doubles for the hosts.
 
Lindler was three-for-three with one RBI for Newberry in game two. She was the only Indian with more than one hit in game two. Lindler plated a run in the fifth inning with an RBI single.
 
Wingate junior pitcher Lauren Powell (Midlothian, Va.) won the nightcap for the hosts. She gave up one unearned run on four hits in four innings of work. She struck out three and walked only one. Bulldog sophomore hurler Brittney Taylor (Lexington, N.C.) pitched the final two innings, giving up one run on three hits. Taylor struck out one and walked one.
 
Kirby took the loss in game number two for the Indians. She gave up eight runs (five earned) on six hits in two innings of work. She struck out one and walked two. McLeod finished, giving up two earned runs on seven hits in three innings. McLeod struck two and did not walk a batter.
 
Newberry will travel to Mount Olive College tomorrow (Sunday) for a 2 p.m. twinbill.