WINGATE, N.C. -- Ninth-ranked Francis Marion University split a non-conference doubleheader with Wingate University in NCAA Division II softball action Thursday afternoon. Wingate (15-8-1 overall) defeated Francis Marion (22-7 overall) 2-0 in the first game, but the Patriots won game two 4-3.

Game #1:        Wingate 2, Francis Marion 0

Wingate sophomore right-hander Allison Smith tossed a complete-game shutout, striking out seven to lead the Bulldogs to the game one victory. Senior third baseman Hallie Pettigrew and sophomore infielder Emily Chavis drove in the runs for the Bulldogs.

Wingate struck first in the third, when Chavis delivered with a two-out double to left center to plate junior first baseman Leyila Myers for a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the fourth when senior outfielder Heather Winchester scored on an RBI single by Pettigrew.

The two-run cushion would be enough for Smith, who improves to 9-3 on the year. She allowed only four hits while striking out seven and walking one. FMU junior southpaw Michaela Wolf took the loss, falling to 12-5 on the year. The Patriot left-hander allowed one earned run on six hits while striking out four.

Francis Marion loaded the bases with one out in the fourth on singles by Jessica Birchmeier and Wolf and a walk by Ashley Jaramillo, but was unable to score.

Game #2:        Francis Marion 4, Wingate 3

Senior outfielder Stevie Arrand hit a go-ahead 2-run homer to lead the Francis Marion offense in the nightcap. FMU senior catcher Kayla Ruede was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Senior shortstop Shannan Tyson was 2-for-5 with a run scored, after collecting one hit in the opener.

The Bulldogs plated a pair of runs in the first. Pettigrew scored the first run on a Francis Marion error. Catcher Debra Grijalva added an RBI single to make it 2-0. Francis Marion cut the lead to one in the third one an RBI groundout from freshman infielder Ashley Jaramillo.

The Patriots took a 3-2 lead on a two-run homer from Arrand in the fourth. Francis Marion added another run in the fifth, with Ruede scoring on a Bulldog error to make it 4-2. Wingate cut the lead to one on another RBI single from Grijalva in the fifth. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but were unable to tie the game.

FMU freshman Lauren Bubeck (7-2) got the win. She went the distance, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while striking out two. Wingate sophomore Brittany Blankenship took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in one inning. Smith pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for the Bulldogs, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out three.

The Patriots return to action on Sunday, traveling to Queens University of Charlotte for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.