BOX SCORE

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) went seven-for-seven with seven RBI and seven runs scored to lead the Bulldogs to a record-breaking 33-17 win over the Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State University in NCAA Division II baseball action Wednesday evening at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate improves to 22-13 overall, while WVSU falls to 8-4 on the season.

Wingate’s 33 runs and 33 hits breaks a SAC record for runs in a single game, while the 32 RBI for Bulldogs also breaks the record. The two teams combined to score a league-record 50 runs. The game featured 11 doubles and six homers. Yeung broke the conference record with seven hits and seven runs scored, while tying the record with three doubles. The preseason All-SAC selection blasted two homers and three doubles on the night, raising his batting average 31 points in the process.

Junior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) went four-for-six with a homer, five RBI and four runs scored. Junior designated hitter Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) was three-for-four with a double, homer, five RBI and four runs scored. Senior outfielder Cale Rogers (Snow Camp, N.C.) had four hits, four RBI and three runs scored for the Bulldogs, while freshman infielder Cody Shelton (Charlotte, N.C.) had three hits and three runs scored. Every Wingate starter scored at least two runs Wednesday night.

Sophomore catcher Jeremy Buchanan (Beckley, W.Va.) had a homer and three RBI for the Yellow Jackets, while freshman infielder Jason Lewis (Buffalo, W.Va.) went three-for-five with three RBI and two runs scored. Freshman designated hitter Andrew Pickering (Cross Lanes, W.Va.) had three hits, two RBI and four runs scored for West Virginia State.

The Yellow Jackets took an early lead with two runs in the first. Wingate had the emphatic answer, scoring 11 times in the bottom of the inning. The ‘Dogs sent 13 batters to the plate, racking up 10 hits in the frame. Karr’s two-run double gave Wingate a 3-2 lead. Rogers ripped a two-run single in his second at bat of the inning to make it 6-2. McPherson came up two hitters later and blasted a grand slam to right center to make it 10-2. It is the sixth homer of the year for McPherson, and the fourth grand slam. Yeung made it back-to-back homers by blasting his fifth homer of the year over the fence in right center, capping the scoring in the first inning and making it 11-2.

The Yellow Jackets got two more in the second to trim the lead to seven. Wingate answered with two more in the bottom of the inning, getting a sacrifice fly from Rogers and an RBI single from Shelton to take a 13-4 advantage. The Yellow Jackets once again put up a two spot in the third, answered by Wingate’s two in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by an RBI single from Allison to make it 15-6.

West Virginia State scored five times in the fourth to cut the lead to four. Buchanan provided the big blow of the inning, a three-run homer to right center to make it 15-11.

Wingate once again responded in emphatic fashion, scoring 11 runs in an inning for the second time on the night. Yeung got it started with a two-run homer to left. Rogers, Shelton, McPherson and Yeung delivered four consecutive RBI singles, while junior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) followed with an RBI double. Karr put the finishing touches on the inning with his first homer of the season, a two-run shot to right center to make it 26-11.

The Yellow Jackets plated five more runs in the seventh to make it 27-16. Pickering drove home two of the runs with a double to left. The ‘Dogs answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning. Yeung ripped a two-run double to spark the attack, while redshirt sophomore Taylor Nelson (Raleigh, N.C.) ripped an RBI single to left, allowing Yeung to score for the seventh time. Freshman infielder Will Davis (Farmville, N.C.) finished up the scoring for the Bulldogs on the night, lining a two-run double to left center to make it 33-16.

Freshman right-hander Stephen Vaughan (Wilmington, N.C.) got the win, improving to 2-1 on the year. He allowed three earned runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, striking out six. Senior right-hander Kyle Rucker (Louisa County, Va.) took the loss, falling to 1-1 on the year. He allowed 10 runs on nine hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Wingate returns to action Friday, traveling to Lincoln Memorial for game one of a three-game SAC series. The two teams will meet again Saturday for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.