WINGATE, N.C. — Newberry fell to the 20th-ranked Wingate Bulldogs in both games of the doubleheader this afternoon at the Wingate Softball Stadium.

Newberry falls to 20-8 overall and 2-2 in the SAC while Wingate moves to 20-8 overall and 3-1 in the SAC.

Game One (Newberry falls vs. No. 20 Wingate, 9-6)

Julia Bomhardt started the scoring in the second inning on her hit down the left line. After stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, Chelsey Cunningham would bring her to the plate as she hit into a groundout to the shortstop.

Wingate would respond by scoring three runs to take a 3-1 lead in the second until the Wolves would tie the game later in the next inning.

The Wolves began the third inning with McKenzie Barneycastle taking a walk followed by Natalie Willis reaching base on a fielding error by the shortstop. Both players would then advance a base on a wild pitch. After fouling off three straight pitches, Haley Simonds would connect on the next pitch for a single through the left side to score Barneycastle. Hannah Davis followed it up with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Willis from third base, to tie the game at 3-3.

The Bulldogs would continue their hot-hitting as they scored six runs in the next two innings to retake a 9-3 lead.

Newberry would attempt a comeback in the seventh inning starting with Barneycastle and Willis reaching on back-to-back hits. Simonds would then crush a home run to left center for three RBI’s. The Bulldogs were able to escape the Wolves scoring threat in the inning, claiming a 9-6 win over the Wolves in the process.

The Wolves had four players with multiple hits in the game in Barneycastle, Willis, Simonds and Bomhardt while Simonds led the way with four total RBI’s.

Game Two (Newberry falls vs. No. 20 Wingate 12-6)

Newberry began the second game of the doubleheader in unique fashion as Paige Meyer struck out swinging but reached to first base after an error on Wingate’s catcher. Barneycastle provided a sacrifice bunt to push Meyer to second base.

Willis singled in the next at bat and advanced to second on a fielding error by the center fielder, pushing Meyer to third. Simonds loaded the bases after she reached on a fielder’s choice.

The Bulldogs would then walk Davis and Cunningham with bases loaded, pushing a runner to home plate each time, as Newberry took an early 2-0 lead.

Meyer would follow up her first at-bat by reaching first on another error, this time at third. Willis would then hit a triple to left center to score Meyer, pushing Newberry’s lead to 3-0.

Wingate would score their first run in similar fashion to how the Wolves scored in the first inning as a walk with bases-loaded brought in a run for the Bulldogs. Wingate would then record two hits in the next inning, scoring a run on a sacrifice-fly.

A big fifth-inning would see the Bulldogs take a three-run lead where the Bulldogs capitalized on it with six runs in the sixth inning to take a 12-6 victory.

Newberry falls to 20-8 overall and 2-2 in the SAC while Wingate moves to 20-8 overall and 3-1 in the SAC.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_SoftballWingateWolves.jpgNewberry falls to 20-8 overall and 2-2 in the SAC while Wingate moves to 20-8 overall and 3-1 in the SAC. Courtesy photo

Courtesy of Newberry College