Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University had hot bats on a cold and windy day, slugging 27 hits in a 27-4 non-conference victory over Southeast Region foe St. Andrews Presbyterian College on Wednesday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field.

All nine starters and 15 total Bulldogs hit safely as Wingate (1-0) starts the 2010 season with a win. The Knights remain winless on the year at 0-4.

Wingate scored in seven-of-eight innings and set the tone early posting six runs in the first. Junior left-handed transfer Chris Nelson (Greenville, N.C.) was credited with the win, retiring the Knights in order to start the game. Nelson (1-0) was eligible for the win because Wingate decided to use a different arm on the mound in every inning before the game started.

After the Knights were held hitless for the first three innings, St. Andrews scored two runs in the fourth and fifth cutting the deficit to 10-4 before Wingate exploded for 17 runs in the last three frames.

Six Bulldogs had three base knocks apiece including sophomore left fielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.), senior second baseman Logan Isaacs (Wakefield, N.C.), redshirt senior center fielder Nick Siega-Riz (Clemmons, N.C.), sophomore right fielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.), sophomore third baseman Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.), and redshirt freshman first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.).

Sophomore shortstop Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) highlighted eight Wingate extra-base hits with a two-run homer to center field in the second inning. McPherson and sophomore Matt Keeler (Davidson, N.C.) both drilled triples while Yeung doubled twice.

Freshman Jeff Brothers (East Sparta, Ohio) and senior Samson Williams (Wilmington, N.C.) combined for four of the Knights seven hits with two apiece. Brothers and Williams each had a double and one run scored. Williams knocked in SAPC’s first run while sophomore Michael Ficarro (Pine City, N.C.) and freshman Daniel Oliver (Plymouth, N.C.) both had run producing groundouts.

Fourteen different Wingate batters drove in at least one run Wednesday including four RBI by Karr and three by Allison. Yeung and Allison each circled the bases four times for the Bulldogs.

Freshman Kyle Tate (Gastonia, N.C.) was tagged with the loss in his first collegiate start, striking out three in three innings of work.

Bulldog seniors Lee Oxendine (Laurinburg, N.C.) and Tyler Almond (Oakboro, N.C.) both struck out the side in their respective one inning of work to underline Wingate’s nine hurlers that toed the rubber.

Wingate entertains Indiana University of Pennsylvania for a four-game set this weekend playing a twin bill both Saturday (Noon) and Sunday (1 p.m.). There will be live pay-per-view video provided by the Wingate Sports Network of Sunday's doubleheader. St. Andrews begins Conference Carolinas play with a three-game weekend series at Belmont Abbey College. Saturday’s doubleheader starts at Noon followed by Sunday’s finale at 1 p.m.