NEWBERRY - The Newberry Wolves carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of the first game of Friday's doubleheader, then pounded out ten hits in the second on their way to a sweep of SAC foe Wingate.

While Newberry pitchers were dominant in both games, Wolves' leadoff hitter Gabby Bedard (Winder, Ga.) was even more impressive at the plate, reaching base in seven consecutive plate appearances spanning both games. Bedard grounded out on the second pitch of the day's first contest, then reached base in seven consecutive plate appearances, which included being hit by a pitch. All told, Bedard was 6-for-7 on the day with three runs scored and a stolen base and saw her batting average rise from .326 to .365.

With the wins, Newberry improves to 15-13 on the season and 3-5 in the South Atlantic Conference, while Wingate falls to 17-16-1 and 1-7. Newberry is back in action at home on Sunday at 12 p.m. in a nonconference doubleheader against Flagler.

Game One: Newberry 4, Wingate 1
[Box Score]

Kaylyn Camacho (Tampa, Fla.) and Hannah Blakley (Manning, S.C.) combined to take a no-hitter into the final frame in Friday's early game, pitching around a number of Wingate baserunners to hold the Bulldogs in check.

Despite walking seven batters and striking out just two, Camacho did not allow a hit in her first four innings of work. She was lifted in favor of Blakley in the fifth inning after stranding nine batters, including leaving the bases loaded twice. Blakley pitched two perfect innings before allowing the first Wingate hit of the game with no outs in the top of the seventh. Camacho reentered the game with the bases loaded, and the Bulldogs were able to score a run via a sacrifice fly, but Camacho retired the final two batters to end the game.

Newberry took the lead in the third inning after Gabby Bedard's first hit of the day, a single through the left side of the infield. A sacrifice bunt and a double by Casey Nellums (Duluth, Ga.) gave the Wolves a 1-0 lead. A Paige Brugh (Indian Land, S.C.) single stretched the lead to 2-0.

The Wolves struck for two more runs in the fifth inning. A Bedard single and Katie Capobianco (Coconut Creek, Fla.) sacrifice bunt again got the inning started for Newberry. Bedard scored on a fielding error, then consecutive singles by Brugh and Leah Hosking (Williamston, Mich.) plated another run for the Wolves.

Bedard led the way for the Wolves with a 3-for-3 performance with two runs scored. Nellums and Brugh each had two hits in the game.

Game Two: Newberry 4, Wingate 2
[Box Score]

Things looked bleak for the Wolves in the early going, but pitcher Shelley Jeffcoat (Lexington, S.C.) was able to right the ship and turn in a complete game effort for her eighth win of the season.

Bulldogs' leadoff hitter Kelsey Maffucci singled on a 1-0 count to begin the game. A bunt single on the next pitch gave Wingate two runners on with none out, then a groundout on the next pitch placed two runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly on the first pitch to Hayley Whitley gave Wingate an early 1-0 lead, then an RBI single on a 1-2 count put Jeffcoat in a 2-0 hole just nine pitches into the game.

Newberry answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Gabby Bedard led off with a single on the first pitch she saw, then was moved to second on a groundout by Katie Capobianco. A Casey Nellums single scored Bedard from second. Two batters later, designated player Casey Stevens (Coral Springs, Fla.) singled in a run to tie the game. A Brittany Phillips (Pacolet, S.C.) RBI groundout moments after gave Newberry a 3-2 advantage.
Newberry added a run in the fourth inning on a Lanier Paul (Buford, Ga.) single and a Capobianco squeeze bunt to push its lead to 4-2. It was all the cushion Jeffcoat would need, as she allowed just three hits over the final six innings and retired 13 of the last 14 batters she faced, including the final seven of the game.

While Jeffcoat was spectacular in the circle, it was due in large part to the defensive work of Casey Nellums, making just her fourth start of the season at second base. Nellums had two assists and five putouts in the game, none of which were more impressive than the play that ended the top of the fourth inning. Facing a 3-2 deficit, Wingate had two outs and no runners on. Left fielder Kasey Pendley lifted a 1-0 pitch into shallow center field that appeared as if it would fall in between Nellums, Phillips, and Bedard. But Nellums looked up to keep the ball in her sights and dove toward center field to make an over-the-shoulder grab and end the inning.

Three innings later, Pendley again was victimized by Nellums' glove. The Bulldogs were attempting to rally in the seventh inning and had one out after a demoralizing Jeffcoat strikeout that came at the end of a ten-pitch at-bat. Pendley hit a scorching line drive that appeared to be destined for right field, but Nellums broke to her left and again left her feet, coming up with the line drive in her glove as her body was parallel to the ground.

A lineout to right field would end the game two pitches later, giving the Wolves their first sweep in a doubleheader since February 27 against Lander in Greenwood.