Wingate, N.C.----The Lander University Bearcats used a five-run fourth inning to notch a 9-5 victory over the Bulldogs of Wingate University in NCAA Division II baseball action Tuesday night at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Lander improves to 23-17 overall, while Wingate falls to 27-20 on the year.

Lander sophomore catcher Jeff May (Stem, N.C.) had two doubles, four RBI and a run scored to lead the offensive attack. Freshman infielder Erik Lunde (Pompano Beach, Fla.) was three-for-four with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored, while senior infielder Robert Skinner (Hartsville, S.C.) had two hits and three runs scored for the Bearcats.

Freshman infielder Cody Shelton (Charlotte, N.C.) was three-for-five with a run scored for the Bulldogs. Junior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) went two-for-four with a double, RBI and run scored. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

Skinner led off the game with a double, then scored on an RBI single from junior infielder Kevin Childs (Anderson, S.C.). Wingate answered in the second when Yeung led off with a single, then scored on a sacrifice fly from redshirt sophomore infielder James Tedder (Clemmons, N.C.) to tie it at one.

May ripped a two-run double in the third to put the Bearcats on top by two. Lander added five more runs in the fourth to push the lead to seven. Lunde got it started with an RBI double. Junior infielder AJ Nunziato (S. Setauket, N.Y.) added a two-run single, while another two-run double from May made it 9-2.

The Bulldogs scored a run in the sixth, taking advantage of three Lander errors to cut the deficit to six. Wingate added three more runs in the seventh to make it 9-5. McPherson drove home the first run with an RBI double to right. Yeung and junior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) followed with back-to-back RBI singles to cut the deficit to four.

Senior left-hander Darrin Tew (Garner, N.C.) got the win for Lander, improving to 3-1. He allowed four earned runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings of work, striking out seven. Junior right-hander Ross Davis (Bennington, N.H.) got the final two outs of the game, notching his second save of the season. Freshman right-hander Greyson Davis (New Bern, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 1-1. He allowed eight runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, striking out four.

The Bulldogs return to action Friday, hosting Brevard College at 7 p.m. The two teams meet again Saturday for a doubleheader, with game one starting at 1 p.m. Lander hosts Tusculum Wednesday at 4 p.m.