The Belmont Abbey softball team suffered a pair of 3-0 losses to the visiting Wingate Bulldogs this afternoon at Crusader Field. Wingate improves to 20-17-1, while the Abbey drops to 8-22.

In the opener, the Crusaders managed just one hit as Stacey Houser fanned seven, walked two and hit another, and her offense gave her the only run she would need in the first.

Kelsey Maffucci worked a leadoff walk, was sacrificed to second by Shannen Adams and raced to third on a groundout by Brittany Loudermilt. She scored on a Hayley Whitley single to left.

Two innings later, the Bulldogs added another as Maffucci reached on a one out walk, moved to third on a double by Adams and scored on Whitley's single to center.

Wingate closed the scoring in the fourth as Kayla Saliga singled home pinch runner Kaity Schultz, who entered the game for Tayor Laskey after Laskey led off with a single.

Belmont Abbey's only hit came in the fifth as Kinsey McClure reached on a bloop single to left.

Samantha Jacobs took the loss after allowing three runs on nine hits, walking five and striking out five.

Whitley led Wingate with three hits and two RBI, while Laskey and Saliga both had two hits as Wingate totaled nine.

In the nightcap, Whitley produced all three of the Bulldogs runs as she began with a two RBI single in the first and added an RBI single in the third.

The Crusaders totaled just two hits, as Kaitlyn Jones singled to center in the second and McClure reached on an infield single in the fifth.

Wingate's 1-4 hitters (Maffucci, Adams, Loudermilt and Whitley) all rapped out two hits and Whitley drove in all three runs. Whitley drove in five of the Bulldog's six runs on the day.

Miranda Paul took the win in a complete-game effort, scattering two hits and fanning three. She also walked a pair.

Catelyn Pressley took the loss after yielding three runs on six hits in two and one-thirds innings, striking out one. Nikki Faust held Wingate scoreless over the final four and two-thirds innings, striking out three and scattering two hits.

Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box