Salisbury, N.C.----Catawba College freshman third baseman Chris Dula (Troutman, N.C.) was two-for-four with two doubles and three RBI and sophomore pitcher Nick Lomascolo (Mooresville, N.C.) tossed eight solid innings as the Indians defeated Wingate University 7-3 in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Friday night at Newman Park.

The number 23 team in the NCAA Division II top 30 poll, Catawba is 13-4 overall and 7-0 in the SAC. The Bulldogs are 14-8 overall and 4-3 in the SAC. Wingate has played seven consecutive games against nationally-ranked opponents. The two teams will conclude the series Saturday with a doubleheader. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

Catawba posted an early lead and made it stick. In the first inning, Dula doubled down the left-field line. One out later, he moved to third on a throwing error. He scored when sophomore designated hitter Garrett Furr (Gold Hill, N.C.) recorded an RBI on a fielder’s choice.

In the third, Catawba junior shortstop Brett Underwood (Greensboro, N.C.) doubled down the right-field line to start the frame. He moved to third on a fly out. Underwood scored on an RBI groundout by Dula.

Wingate cut the deficit in half with a single spot in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, senior outfielder Cale Rogers (Snow Camp, N.C.) doubled. Rogers scored when junior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) stroked an RBI double to center field.

The hosts answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Catawba senior catcher Josh Hohn (Greensboro, N.C.) homered to left. Furr followed with a single through the right side. Junior first baseman Austin Moyer (Greensboro, N.C.) hit a two-run homer to left center, scoring Furr.

Catawba scored two unearned runs in the sixth inning. Freshman outfielder Keaton Hawks (Lexington, N.C.) struck out, but reached on a Wingate error. Senior outfielder John Neese (Summerfield, N.C.) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.

Both runners moved up one base on a sacrifice bunt by Underwood. One out later, Dula contributed a two-RBI double down the right-field line. Bulldog sophomore right-hander Steven Chaffee (Greenville, S.C.) entered the game and struck out Catawba junior outfielder Ryan Bostian (Kannapolis, N.C.) to end the threat.

In the top of the ninth, Wingate tallied two unearned runs off Catawba senior reliever Wil Huneycutt (Locust, N.C.). Bulldog junior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) reached on an error. Wingate loaded the bases, thanks to back-to-back singles by junior designated hitter Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) and redshirt sophomore second baseman James Tedder (Clemmons, N.C.).

Huneycutt got Wingate freshman third baseman Cody Shelton (Charlotte, N.C.) to ground into a double play as Allison scored. Later in the inning, junior shortstop Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) contributed an RBI single to score Karr.

Underwood was two-for-three with one run scored for the victors. Four teammates had one hit each. Rogers and Shelton had two hits each for the visiting Bulldogs. Both Wingate hitters had a double Friday night.

Lomascolo improved to 3-1 overall with the victory. In eight innings, he allowed one run on five hits. The Lake Norman High School product struck out one and walked one. Wingate senior left-hander Chris Nelson (Greenville, S.C.) recorded his first loss of the season (2-1 overall). In 5 2/3 innings, Nelson surrendered seven runs (four earned) on seven hits. He struck out eight and walked one. Chaffee gave up one hit in 2 1/3 innings. He struck out two.