Greenwood, S.C.----Wingate University senior infielder Logan Isaacs (Raleigh, N.C.) posted three hits and sophomore infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) blasted an early two-run homer as the Bulldogs picked up an 8-5 NCAA Division II baseball victory at Lander University Wednesday night at Legion Field.

The victory improves Wingate’s record to 12-9 overall. Lander falls to 13-9 overall. The Bulldogs return to South Atlantic Conference play Friday, visiting Brevard College for a 2 p.m. contest. The LU Bearcats host Peach Belt Conference foe Armstrong Atlantic State University Friday at 4 p.m. 

“We did a good job offensively (tonight),” Wingate head coach Allen Osborne says. “We got good, quality at-bats and good pitching. Plus, we took care of the baseball. We did the things we needed to do to win tonight.”
Karr gave Wingate the lead for good in the top of the first inning, thanks to his homer to left center. With one out, Isaacs doubled to left center. He scored when Karr recorded his fourth round-tripper of the season.

The Bulldogs added three runs on three hits and one Bearcat error to take a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Wingate sophomore outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) started the frame by reaching on an error. Redshirt freshman first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) singled to move Allison to second.

Wingate sophomore catcher Josh Sugg (Raleigh, N.C.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A fielder’s choice grounder by freshman outfielder Ethan Strickland (Dunn, N.C.) forced Allison out a home for the inning’s first out. Sophomore shortstop Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) reached on an infield single to score Yeung. An Isaacs single plated Sugg. Strickland scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by Karr.

Lander scored a single spot in the bottom of the second on a solo home run by sophomore infielder Jordan Owens (Inman, S.C.). Owens added an RBI single to the Bearcats’ two-run third inning as the hosts cut the deficit to 5-3.

The Bulldogs continued to battle, as Strickland tripled in the fourth frame. He scored on Isaacs’ RBI single to left to make the score 6-3 Wingate. Owens struck again in the sixth, as he contributed a two-RBI single to pull the Bearcats within one run.

Wingate extended its lead to 8-5 in the seventh when Karr walked and advanced to third on a double by sophomore outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.). Both Bulldogs scored on back-to-back wild pitches.

Isaacs led the Bulldog hit parade with his three-for-five effort. He had one double and three RBI. Karr had the two-run homer and a three-RBI night. Yeung had two hits and 14 put-outs from his first-base post. For Lander, Owens was three-for-five with four RBI.

Wingate utilized seven pitchers Wednesday night. Senior right-hander Dusty White (Charlotte, N.C.) picked up the victory in relief. The Charlotte 49er transfer (2-1 overall) was awarded the win after striking out four, walking one and allowing one earned run on one hit in 2 2/3 innings pitched.

Lander junior righty Brandon Farquhar (Mossley, Ontario, Canada) suffered his first loss of the season to fall to 4-1 overall. The 6-8 Farquhar struck out one and allowed five earned runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings.

(Lander University assistant athletic director for sports media Bob Stoner contributed information to this article.)