WINGATE, N.C. - The Newberry College softball team split its seventh consecutive South Atlantic Conference doubleheader after beating Wingate, 3-1, in the opener but falling to the Bulldogs, 3-0, in the second game.

The teams end the day tied for third place in the conference standings. After the split, Newberry stands at 27-11 (7-7 SAC) while Wingate moves to 32-12 (7-7 SAC).
Amanda Huckestein (Port Charlotte, Fla.) earned the win in the opener for Newberry with a complete-game four hitter and improved to 17-6. Aissa Gatewood (North Charleston, S.C.) was 2-for-3 in the game with 2 RBIs.

Felicia Taylor (Venica, Fla.) pitched well for Newberry in the second game but was tagged with the loss despite a six-inning, four-hit performance in which she surrendered just one earned run. The scarlet and gray committed four errors defensively which accounted for three unearned runs. Jessie Teague (Charlotte, N.C.) led Newberry's effort offensively and accounted for two of Newberry's four hits.

Game One: Newberry 3, Wingate 1 -
Box ScoreThe opener was a pitchers' dual until Newberry finally broke the scoreless tie with a rally in the top of the fifth. Stephanie Blazer (Greenville, S.C.) ignited the surge when she alertly beat out a dropped third strike. Courtney Flach (Tampa, Fla.) bunted Blazer over and a Jessie Teague walk put runners on the corners with one out. Newberry engaged a double steal which lured a Wingate throwing error, allowing Blazer to score and Teague to advance all the way to third. Aissa Gatewood scored Teague with an RBI bunt single back to the pitcher which left the Bulldogs without a play.

Newberry added a third run in the sixth inning with the help of Chelsie Hilbourne's (Loris, S.C.) pinch-hit infield single. Hilbourne advanced to second on an error and stole third before Gatewood managed her second infield RBI single of the game to put Newberry up, 3-0.

The Bulldogs chipped into Newberry's lead in the bottom of the sixth when Deb Grijalva (San Jose, Calif.) and Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) hit back-to-back doubles for Wingate's third and fourth hits of the game.

Huckestein silenced the Bulldogs for the remainder of the sixth and in the seventh as well to earn the complete-game victory. She allowed just four hits and two walks and struck out seven.

Game Two: Newberry 0, Wingate 3 -
Box ScoreNewberry failed to get to Wingate's pitching in the second game and was held to four hits. Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) was dominant in the circle for the Bulldogs and pitched the complete seven innings to earn the win.

Wingate opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of walks followed by an RBI-single from Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.).

The Bulldogs added two more in the fifth after reaching on an error and stringing together a walk and a pair of singles with two outs to plate two runs.

Newberry will play its final regular-season games on Saturday, April 17, at home against Tusculum. Newberry will host Senior Day and honor the team's eight seniors. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.