SALISBURY, N.C. - Wingate hurler Stacey Houser tossed a two-hit shutout to lead seventh-seeded Wingate to a 4-0 victory past second-seeded Anderson in the first round of the 2013 Food Lion SAC Softball Championship, held Thursday at Whitley Field.

Houser held the Trojans, the top offensive team in the conference, to just four baserunners over seven innings. Wingate's Kelsey Maffucci homered and doubled, while Kayla Saliga added two hits and a homer for the Bulldogs.

Wingate (30-18-1) advances to face third-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne Friday at 9 a.m. at Whitley Park, while Anderson (37-12) will face Mars Hill in an elimination game at 11:30 a.m. at Salisbury Community Park.

Mafucci got Wingate on the scoreboard early, hitting the second pitch of the game over the wall in left to put the Bulldogs up 1-0. Maffuci's homer was her third of the season.

The Bulldogs tacked on another run in the second when Emily Usiak drew a one-out walk. After a fielder's choice, Kasey Pendley doubled deep down the right-field line to drive in the run and give WU a 2-0 lead.

Saliga gave Wingate a 3-0 lead with a two-out solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. The homer was Saliga's fourth of the season. Saliga also led off Wingate's seventh with a single and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.

Bri Cason and Jessica Neidigh each had a hit to lead AU ath the plate, while Abby Child and Molly Child each recorded a walk.

Houser struck out two and walked two, while improving to 21-10 on the season with the victory. Junior Bailey Smith (17-7) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits in four innings of work. Lauren Bell tossed three innings of relief and gave up one run on a pair of hits. She struck out five and did not issue a walk.