Harrogate, Tenn.----Wingate University junior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) blasted a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the seventh to give the Bulldogs a 7-5 win over Lincoln Memorial University in the series finale Sunday afternoon. The game started Saturday afternoon, but was halted due to rain and completed on Sunday. Wingate improves to 23-15 overall and 10-8 in the SAC. LMU falls to 21-14 overall and 11-7 in the SAC.

Junior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double, two RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs. Senior catcher Taylor Honeycutt (Indian Trial, N.C.) homered for Wingate, while redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) was two-for-four with a double and run scored.

Gelson Perez went one-for-three with two RBI to lead the LMU attack. Juan Alvarez was three-for-three with a run scored, while Cody Pack went two-for-four with an RBI for the Railsplitters. Lincoln Memorial struck first in the first, via an RBI single from John Couch.

Wingate answered in the third, scoring three times to take the lead. Honeycutt got things started, leading off the inning with his eighth homer of the year to tie the game at 1-1. Freshman infielder Cody Shelton (Charlotte, N.C.) lined a single to right center, while Yeung followed with a double to put two on for Allison, who delivered with a two-run single to give the ‘Dogs a 3-1 lead.

Perez answered with a two-run single for the Railsplitters to tie it in the bottom of the third. A solo homer from Nolan Woody in the fourth put LMU on top 4-3. The game was halted in the bottom of the fifth, with the Railsplitters leading by one.

The ‘Dogs tied the game in the sixth inning on Sunday, with Allison lining a double down the left field line, then scoring on an RBI single from junior infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.). Lincoln Memorial answered in the bottom of the frame, taking a 5-4 lead on a two-out RBI single from Pack.

The Railsplitters retired the first two Wingate hitters in the seventh. Senior outfielder Cale Rogers (Snow Camp, N.C.) reached on an RBI single, while Shelton followed by reaching on an error to bring McPherson to the plate. He drove an 0-1 pitch over the fence in right, his seventh homer of the season, to give the ‘Dogs a 7-5 lead.

Freshman right-hander Steven Vaughan (Wilmington, N.C.) held LMU scoreless in the seventh to notch his third save of the year, allowing one hit while striking out one. He saved the victory for redshirt sophomore right-hander Josh Karr (Richmond, Va.), who moved to 3-1 overall on the year. Karr allowed a run on three hits in two innings of work, striking out four. Cody Church took the loss, falling to 4-3 overall on the year. He allowed four runs on four hits in two innings of work.

Wingate returns to action Tuesday, traveling to St. Andrews Presbyterian College for a 2 p.m. start. LMU hosts King (Tenn.) College Tuesday at 6 p.m.

(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.)