JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Allison Smith fired a one-hitter to lead fifth-seeded Wingate University to a 2-0 victory over fourth-seeded Tusculum College in the opening round of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament on Wednesday at the Lady Eagle Softball Complex.

With the win, the Bulldogs (31-13) advance to the second round and will face top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Lady Eagle softball complex. The Pioneers (30-16) will play Lincoln Memorial on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tenn.

Smith (21-5) allowed just a sixth-inning single to Taylor MacDonald en route to her seventh shutout of the season, striking out three along the way.

Wingate gave Smith all the run support she needed in the third inning. Gina Ager led off with a single against Pioneer starter Erin Searcy, and with two outs Hayley Whitley delivered a single through the right side to drive in Ager and give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs added a run in the fourth, as Maureen Sandidge doubled to lead off the frame and later scored on a Brittany Loudermilt double to left center to push Wingate's lead to 2-0.

Smith had a perfect game through four innings of work before the Bulldogs committed a fielding error in the fifth, and she held the Pioneers without a hit until MacDonald singled down the left-field line in the sixth to break up the no-hitter.

In the seventh, the Pioneers' Shanda Kimbrough drew a one-out walk, but Smith retired the final two batters to finish off the victory.

The Bulldogs collected nine hits in the win, including two apiece from Ager, Whitley and Emily Chavis.

Searcy (14-12) was tagged with the loss, the seventh time this season the Pioneers were blanked in one of her starts. Searcy surrendered two runs and nine hits and had four strikeouts in seven innings in the circle.

- TC -