NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team fought from behind in a pair of close ball games, but ultimately fell twice to Wingate University during the team's home finale, losing the first game, 4-2 in nine innings, and the second, 6-4.

Game One: Wingate 4, Newberry 2 (9 inn.)

The Wolves fell behind by two runs early on but battled back to send game one into extra innings, but a stellar defensive performance by the Bulldogs proved to be the key as they took down the scarlet and gray 4-2 in nine innings.

Down 2-0 after Wingate (29-12, 10-6 SAC) put up a pair of runs in the top of the second, Newberry (15-28, 2-14 SAC) tied up the ballgame after a Felicia Taylor (Venice, Fla.) lead-off home run in the bottom of the fourth put the Wolves back within one. Freshman Jennifer Yancey (Dunwoody, Ga.) then hit a bases loaded infield single which scored the tying run in Chelsie Hilbourn (Loris, S.C.).

Both teams went scoreless through the seventh and it looked like the Wolves would score the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth when they had runners on second and third with just one out. But the Bulldogs forced an Amber Holley (Aiken, S.C.) groundout and a Casey Stevens (Coral Springs, Fla.) strikeout to get out of the jam and send the game to the ninth.

In the top of the ninth, Wingate scored the game winning runs on a Jordyn Setzer (Taylorsville, N.C.) RBI single to centerfield to make it 3-2 Bulldogs. Stephanie Simmons (Hickory, N.C.) then sent home an insurance run with her sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored teammate Joya Wortham (Creedmoor, N.C.).

The Wolves put runners on second and third with no outs in the bottom of the ninth but the right arm of Wingate pitcher Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) came through in the clutch as she struck out three straight Newberry batters to end the game.

Smith struck out 12 Wolves during her nine innings of work while giving up just eight hits. Taylor hurled 170 pitches during the extra inning affair while allowing 11 hits, seven walks and recording five strikeouts.

From the plate, Hilbourn was the only batter with multiple hits for Newberry, going 2-for-4 with two singles. Taylor was the only player from either team to get a hit for extra bases with her homer in the fourth.

Game Two: Wingate 6, Newberry 4

With their backs against the wall the Newberry College batters came through with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but it was too little to late as Wingate took a 6-4 win in game two.

Down 6-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Wolves started a come-from-behind attempt that was kicked off by another lead-off homer from Taylor. Shelby Holland then picked up an RBI single that scored senior Richelle Mirabal (Tampa, Fla.) to put the score at 6-2 in favor of Wingate. Angela Cataldo (Sumter, S.C.) then smacked an RBI double to right field that was followed by a Jessie Teague (Charlotte, N.C.) single that scored one to send the game into the seventh with the Wolves down 6-4.

The Wolves put runners on in the bottom of the seventh but couldn't manage to bring them home as the game ended with a two-run Wingate win.

The Bulldogs picked up the early lead as they dropped two runs on the Wolves in the top of the first and another two in the top of the second on an Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) two run homer. Wingate ended their scoring in the top of the fourth when they scored twice more on a Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) double to right center.

Newberry outhit Wingate during the game, 11-6, and picked up a huge plate performance from Mirabal who went 3-for-4 with three singles and a run scored. Cataldo was 2-for-3 from the batter's box with an RBI double and scored a run.

Taylor started off the game in the circle for the Wolves but went just 3.2 innings giving up all six Wingate hits before being replaced by Shelley Jeffcoat (Lexington, S.C.). The sophomore went the last 3.1 innings allowing just one hit while striking out two.

The Wolves will wrap up their 2011 campaign this Saturday, April 16, as they head to Greeneville, Tenn., to face Tusculum. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.