BOX SCORE

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs rallied for a 15-14 victory over the Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State University Tuesday night, after trailing 14-6 in the seventh inning. The ‘Dogs scored two in the seventh, two in the eight and four in the ninth to tie it, while sophomore pitcher Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.) scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the 11th inning. The Bulldogs improve to 21-13 overall, while the WVSU Yellow Jackets fall to 8-3 on the year.

Junior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) led the Wingate attack, going four-for-six with a triple, homer, four RBI and three runs scored. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) added a double, triple and four RBI, while junior shortstop Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) was three-for-six with two RBI, two runs scored, while drawing three walks on the night.

 

Senior outfielder Bo Darby (Logan, W.Va.) went three-for-five with two homers, four RBI and three runs scored to lead the West Virginia State attack. Senior catcher Jeremy Fisher (Dover, Ohio) was three-for-six with three RBI and a run scored for the Yellow Jackets, while senior infielder Robert Hawkins (Shinnston, W.Va.) had three hits, two RBI and four runs scored.

 

Hawkins doubled to start the game, then scored on an RBI groundout to give the Yellow Jackets an early lead. They added three runs in the second, highlighted by a Darby homer to take a 4-0 advantage.

 

Wingate got on the board in the bottom of the inning when McPherson blasted his fifth homer of the season, a two-run shot over the fence in right to make it 4-2. An RBI triple from redshirt sophomore infielder James Tedder (Clemmons, N.C.) in the fourth made it 4-3.

 

Darby blasted his second homer of the night and fourth of the season in the fifth, a solo shot to make it 5-3. Wingate answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. Senior outfielder Cale Rogers (Snow Camp, N.C.) started the inning with a double, then scored on an RBI groundout from Yeung. Junior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) followed with an RBI double to tie it, then scored on an RBI single from Vazquez to give the ‘Dogs a 6-5 advantage.

 

West Virginia State had the answer in the sixth, scoring seven times to regain the lead. The first run scored via a pair of Wingate errors. Hawkins put the Yellow Jackets on top with an RBI groundout, while sophomore outfielder Bill Smith (Hurricane, W.Va.) followed with an RBI single. Fisher lined a two-run double to right center, then scored on an RBI single from junior outfielder Eric Temple (Pittsburgh, Pa.) to make it 12-6.

 

WVSU added two more runs in the seventh, taking a 14-6 lead on an RBI single from Fisher. Wingate’s rally started in the bottom of the frame, scoring a pair of runs. Vazquez drove home the first run with an RBI double, while Tedder followed with an RBI double to make it 14-8.

 

The Bulldogs cut two more runs off the deficit in the eighth. A hit batsman and single from McPherson put two on base in front of Yeung, who lined a two-run triple to make it a four-run game.

 

The ‘Dogs entered the ninth trailing 14-10. Tedder started things off with a single, while senior catcher Taylor Honeycutt (Indian Trail, N.C.) followed with a walk. Senior outfielder Brandon Santiago (Monroe, N.C.) lined an RBI double down the left field line to make it a three-run game. McPherson followed by lining a two-run triple to right center to get the Bulldogs to within one. Yeung Followed by lining an RBI double off the left field fence, tying it at 14.

 

The teams went scoreless in the 10th, and the Yellow Jackets went down again in the 11th, thanks to the pitching of redshirt sophomore right-hander Josh Karr (Richmond, Va.). Karr retired West Virginia State in order in the 10th, then struck out four in the 11th, with one hitter reaching base after a strikeout via a wild pitch.

 

Redshirt sophomore outfielder Taylor Nelson (Raleigh, N.C.) reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the 11th, and was replaced by Somers, who came in as a pinch-runner. Vazquez and Tedder followed with walks to load the bases with one out. With Honeycutt at the plate, a pitch from sophomore right-hander John Fox (Bridgeport, W.Va.) got past the catcher, allowing Somers to score the game-winning run.

 

Karr got the win, improving to 2-1 on the year. He pitched two innings without allowing a hit, striking out five. Fox took the loss, allowing a run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings of work, striking out one and walking three.

 

The two teams meet again Wednesday at 5 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for 2 p.m., but has been pushed back. Wednesday’s contest will take place at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field.