Game One Box Score       Game Two Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs swept a doubleheader over the Lions of Mars Hill College in South Atlantic baseball action Saturday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Bulldogs won by scores of 9-7 and 6-3 to improve to 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the SAC. Mars Hill falls to 6-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference.

Game #1 
Wingate 9, Mars Hill 7

Junior outfielder Tres Ramirez (Ocala, Fla.) blasted a pinch-hit, go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the eighth as the Bulldogs erased an early four-run deficit and notched a 9-7 victory in the opener. Senior infielder Logan Isaacs (Wakefield, N.C.) went four-for-four with an RBI and three runs scored, while sophomore infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) had a homer and two RBI for the Bulldogs.

Junior outfielder Rusty Smith (Leesburg, Va.) had a homer and two RBI to lead the Mars Hill offense. Senior outfielder Patrick Davidson (Swannanoa, N.C.) was two-for-four with two runs scored for the Lions.

The Bulldogs got on the board first, scoring twice in the top of the second. Sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) got it started with an RBI double. Freshman designated hitter Ethan Strickland (Dunn, N.C.) drove home the second run with an RBI single.

The Lions answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. The first three runs scored via Wingate errors, while Smith drove home the final two with a homer to right field, putting Mars Hill on top 5-2. The Lions added a run in the sixth when senior outfielder Brandon Savoca (Riegelwood, N.C.) scored when Davidson was caught stealing.

The Bulldogs scored four runs in the fourth to tie the game at six. Karr got it started with a two-run homer to right. Redshirt senior outfielder Nick Siega-Riz (Clemmons, N.C.) added a solo homer to cut the lead to one. The Bulldogs tied it on an RBI single from sophomore outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.).

The Lions took a 7-6 lead in the fifth on an RBI double from sophomore infielder Michael Bueker (Cooper City, Fla.). The Bulldogs trailed by one in the eighth when Isaacs led off the inning with a double. Strickland then walked, and Ramirez drove a three-run shot to left center to make it 9-7.

Senior right-hander Lee Oxendine (Laurinburg, N.C.) came in to pitch the ninth, striking out two to nail down his second save of the year. Senior right-hander Tyler Almond (Oakboro, N.C.) got the win, allowing seven runs (two earned) on 10 hits while striking out eight. Freshman Charles Anthony (Winston-Salem, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 1-1 on the year. He allowed two runs on one hit while striking out three in 1.1 innings of work.

Game #2 
Wingate 6, Mars Hill 3

Siega-Riz went two-for-four with two homers and four RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Karr was one-for-two with an RBI and a run scored. Senior infielder Mike Kitt (West Islip, N.Y.) was one-for-three with a homer and two RBI for the Lions.

Siega-Riz led off the game with his sixth homer of the year. Yeung added an RBI single to make it 2-0. Karr finished the scoring in the first with an RBI single to right field to put Wingate up by three.

The Lions answered in the third, scoring a pair of runs on a two-run homer from Kitt.

The Bulldogs answered in the sixth, getting another homer from Siega-Riz. He has now hit five homers in Wingate’s last four games.

Junior right-hander Cameron Falcon (Durham, N.C.) got the win in relief, improving to 1-0 on the year. He pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out two. Senior Justin Hall (Martinsville, Va.) took the loss, falling to 0-1 on the season. He allowed three runs on five hits in four innings of work while striking out three.

The Bulldogs and Lions meet for a single game Sunday, with first pitch at 1 p.m.