Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior pitchers Chris Nelson (Greenville, N.C.) and Marc Rape (Lancaster, S.C.) each notched complete-game shutouts as the Bulldogs swept a doubleheader over the Tornados of Brevard College in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon. Wingate won by scores of 2-0 and 9-0 to improve to 15-9 overall and 11-4 in the SAC. Brevard falls to 5-16 overall and 1-14 in the conference. 




Game #1: Wingate 2, Brevard 0       BOX SCORE 

Nelson allowed only three hits in nine innings of work while shutting down the Brevard offense. Senior infielder Logan Isaacs (Raleigh, N.C.) was two-for-five with an RBI to lead the offense, while sophomore catcher Josh Sugg (Raleigh, N.C.) came off the bench to go one-for-two with an RBI.

The game was scoreless going into the seventh inning. Junior designated hitter Tres Ramirez (Ocala, Fla.) led off the inning with a walk, then went to second on a sacrifice bunt from redshirt senior outfielder Nick Siega-Riz (Clemmons, N.C.). Sugg laced an RBI single to left to plate freshman pinch runner Tripp Faulk (Little River, S.C.).

Wingate added a run in the ninth, when sophomore shortstop Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) started the inning with a double, then scored on an RBI single from Isaacs.

That would be enough for Nelson, who improves to 3-0 on the season. He struck out seven while walking two on 117 pitches. The three hits he allowed on the afternoon were all singles. Senior left-hander Shane Galloway (Rosman, N.C.) took the loss, allowing one run on six hits in 6.1 innings of work, falling to 1-1 on the year.

Game #2: Wingate 9, Brevard 0       BOX SCORE

Rape allowed only three hits in the seven-inning shutout, while the Wingate offense pounded out 12 hits. Ramirez went three-for-four with an RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs. Sophomore outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) was two-for-four with two runs scored, while sophomore infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) had a homer and two RBI.

Wingate got on the board in the second, plating six runs. The first two runs of the inning scored on Brevard errors. Siega-Riz added an RBI single to make it 3-0. Freshman catcher Taylor Honeycutt (Indian Trail, N.C.) followed with an RBI double to push the lead to four. An RBI single from Isaacs, along with an RBI groundout from Karr put Wingate on top 6-0.

Allison led off the third inning with a single, then scored on an RBI groundout from Honeycutt to make it 7-0. A solo homer from Karr made it 8-0 in the fourth. The Bulldogs added one more run in the seventh on an RBI single from Ramirez.

Rape struck out seven while walking only one on the afternoon, improving to 1-1 on the year. The three hits allowed were all singles, as Rape threw only 71 pitches on the afternoon. He also benefited from four double plays turned by the Wingate defense. Junior right-hander Jacob White (Elkin, N.C.) took the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits in 1.2 innings of work, falling to 0-5 on the year.

The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday, hosting West Virginia State at 7 p.m. The Wingate Sports Network will provide a live video broadcast Tuesday night. The Tornados are also in action Tuesday, hosting Erskine College at 2 p.m.