Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth of game one to rally for an 11-10 victory over the Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate added a 6-4 victory in game two to improve to 24-10 overall and 17-4 in the SAC. LMU falls to 16-19 overall and 8-10 in the SAC.

The Bulldogs have now won nine straight games overall, while also notching their third consecutive SAC series sweep. Wingate sits atop the SAC standings with one conference series remaining. With one win against Carson-Newman next weekend, the Bulldogs clinch at least a share of the SAC regular season title. With two victories, Wingate would guarantee an outright league championship. The three-game series will take place at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field, starting Friday night at 7 p.m.


Game #1
Wingate 11, LMU 10       BOX SCORE

The Bulldogs never led until the final pitch, trailing by as many as four in the seventh inning. Wingate scored in each of the last five innings to get the victory. The Bulldogs pounded out 16 hits, led by redshirt senior outfielder Nick Siega-Riz (Clemmons, N.C.) and senior infielder Logan Isaacs (Raleigh, N.C.) with three hits each.

Sophomore shortstop Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) was two-for-five with four RBI and four runs scored. He would add a hit in game two to extend his current hitting streak to 21 games. Sophomore outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) added three RBI for the Bulldogs.

Senior outfielder Ben Adleburg (Madisonville, Fla.) went two-for-five with a homer and two runs scored to lead the LMU offense. Junior infielder John Couch (Bonnyman, Ky.) added two hits and two RBI for the Railsplitters, while freshman infielder Garrett Copeland (Knoxville, Tenn.) added a double, RBI and two runs scored.

LMU took a 1-0 lead in the second on a sacrifice fly from junior designated hitter Chase Quarles (Rogersville, Tenn.). The Bulldogs tied the game in the third when Vazquez doubled, then scored on an error.

The Railsplitters regained the lead in the fourth on a solo homer from Adleburg, his ninth of the season. Junior outfielder Deaun Williams (Beech Grove, Ind.) added an RBI single in the fifth. He would score on a wild pitch to make it 4-1.

McPherson drove home Vazquez with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to cut the lead to two. Lincoln Memorial had the answer, with Copeland lining an RBI double to left in the sixth. He scored on a Wingate error to give the ‘Splitters a 6-2 lead.

The Bulldogs responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Vazquez lined a two-run double to left center to cut the lead in half. McPherson added a two-run single to tie the game at six.

LMU scored four runs of their own in the seventh to retake a four-run lead. The first two runs scored via a balk and a Wingate error. The final two runs would score on a two-run single from Couch to put the Railsplitters on top 10-6.

The Bulldogs got one run back in the seventh when redshirt freshman first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) singled, went to third on a Siega-Riz double, then scored on an RBI groundout from Vazquez to make it 10-7. Sophomore outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) blasted a solo homer in the eighth (his third of the year) to cut the lead to two.

Trailing by two in the ninth, Yeung would start the inning with a single. Siega-Riz was then hit by a pitch, while junior catcher Taylor Honeycutt (Indian Trail, N.C.) reached on a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. Vazquez drove home the first run on a groundout to make it 10-9. Siega-Riz would score the game-tying run on a balk. Vazquez would then score the game-winner on a wild pitch, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 11-10.

Wingate senior right-hander TJ Worrell (Charlotte, N.C.) got the win, improving to 1-0 overall on the season. He pitched the final 2 1/3 innings without allowing a hit, while striking out one. LMU freshman right-hander Austin Johnson (Versailles, Ky.) took the loss, walking a batter and later throwing the wild pitch to allow the winning run to score.

Game #2
Wingate 6, LMU 4       BOX SCORE

Siega-Riz was two-for-three with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored to spark the Wingate offense in game two. Junior designated hitter Tres Ramirez (Ocala, Fla.) was three-for-three with a double, homer, RBI and two runs scored.

Senior infielder Nick Langley (Blaine, Tenn.) was one-for-two with a double and three RBI to lead the LMU attack. Williams also drove home a run for the Railsplitters.

The Bulldogs struck first, scoring four runs in the second inning. The first three hitters singled to start the inning, while McPherson scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch. Siega-Riz then drove a three-run double to left center to make it 4-0.

Wingate added a run in the fourth when Siega-Riz doubled to right field, then scored on an RBI single from Vazquez. The Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead in the fifth on a solo homer from Ramirez, his second of the year.

LMU plated four runs in the sixth to cut the lead to two. Langley provided the big blow, a three-run double to right center to cut the lead in half. He would score on an RBI single from Williams to make it 6-4.

Junior right-hander Cameron Falcon (Durham, N.C.) would pitch the final 1 2/3 innings to nail down the save without allowing a run on two hits. He preserved the victory for junior right-hander Marc Rape (Lancaster, S.C.), who improves to 3-1 overall on the year. Rape allowed four runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking four. Redshirt freshman left-hander Brandon Cowan (Tequesta, Fla.) took the loss for LMU, allowing four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings and falling to 2-3 overall on the year.

Wingate returns to action Monday night, hosting UNC Pembroke at 6 p.m. LMU returns to action Tuesday night, traveling to Northern Kentucky University for a 6 p.m. start.

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)