BOX SCORE

Wingate, N.C.----The defending South Atlantic Conference champion Wingate University Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to rally for a 4-3 victory over the Rams of Winston-Salem State University in the 2011 season opener Tuesday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate is 1-0 on the season, while the Rams, playing their first game since 1973, are 0-1.

Junior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double and a run scored to lead the Wingate offense. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs, while redshirt sophomore infielder James Tedder (Clemmons, N.C.) was one-for-three with an RBI.

Junior outfielder Brice Rivenbark (Burlington, N.C.) was two-for-four with two RBI to lead the WSSU offense. Freshman outfielder Jacob Pizzuto (Fort Mill, S.C.) also had a pair of hits for the Rams, while junior catcher Michael Robbins (Winston-Salem, N.C.) scored a pair of runs.

The Rams got on the board early, as Robbins led off the game with a single, then scored on an RBI double down the right field line from Riverbank.

That would be all of the scoring until the seventh, when Winston-Salem State loaded the bases with no outs. Sophomore infielder Tyler Hickernell (Thomasville, N.C.) drew a one-out walk to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. Rivenbark followed with an RBI groundout to give WSSU a three-run lead.

The ‘Dogs answered with their first run of the game in the bottom of the seventh, when Allison led off the inning with a double, then scored on an RBI single to left center from Tedder to cut the deficit to two.

Wingate started the eighth with back-to-back singles, and made it a one-run game when senior catcher Taylor Honeycutt (Indian Trail, N.C.) scored as junior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) reached on an error. Yeung followed with an RBI single to right center to tie the game at three. Wingate took its first lead of the game when McPherson scored on a passed ball.

Sophomore right-hander Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.) came in to earn his first save of the year in the ninth. He worked around a lead-off walk, getting a pair of groundouts before striking out the game’s final batter to nail down his fifth career save.

Junior right-hander Ryan Fitzpatrick (Jacksonville, Fla.) got the win in his Wingate debut. The Seminole State College transfer allowed only one hit in two innings of work, while striking out three and not allowing a run to improve to 1-0 on the year. Sophomore right-hander Wesley Edwards (Rochester, N.C.) took the loss for the Rams, allowing four runs on five hits in two innings of work.

Both starters were solid in the season openers. Wingate freshman Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) allowed an unearned run on five hits in five innings of work, striking out four. Freshman right-hander Joseph Herbert (Southern Pines, N.C.) tossed six shutout innings for the Rams, allowing three hits while striking out five.

The Bulldogs return to action this weekend, hosting Shippensburg (Pa.) for a three-game series. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m., while the third game of the series will be Sunday at 1 p.m. Winston-Salem State travels to Armstrong Atlantic State this weekend, with game one Friday at 11 a.m.