Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs split a doubleheader with the Eagles of Carson-Newman College in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Bulldogs won the first game 14-6, while Carson-Newman took game two 5-3. Wingate moves to 24-17 overall and 11-10 in the SAC, while the Eagles are 17-21 overall and 13-8 in the conference.
Game #1: Wingate 14, Carson-Newman 6
Redshirt sophomore infielder James Tedder (Clemmons, N.C.) was three-for-four with a homer and four RBI to lead the Wingate attack, while junior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) also had a homer and four RBI for the Bulldogs. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) was three-for-five with two doubles, a homer, two RBI and two run scored. Senior outfielder Cale Rogers (Snow Camp, N.C.) was four-for-six with two doubles and two runs scored.
Junior infielder Lance Rorex (Chattanooga, Tenn.) was two-for-three with two runs scored to lead the Carson-Newman attack. Freshman infielder Trace Rogers (Simpsonville, S.C.) went two-for-two with a double and two RBI, while sophomore catcher Lance Reed (Elizabethton, Tenn.) was one-for-two with an RBI and run scored.
The Bulldogs came out hot, plating five runs in the first. Rogers led off the inning with a double, then scored on an RBI single from McPherson. Yeung followed with an RBI double to right center, then scored on an RBI double from junior infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) to make it 3-0. Freshman infielder Cody Shelton (Charlotte, N.C.) followed with a two-run single to push the lead to five.
Wingate added eight runs in the third to blow the game open. Yeung started the frame by blasting his team-best ninth homer of the year to left. Tedder belted his first homer of the season to right, a three-run shot to put Wingate on top 9-0. An RBI single from junior infielder Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) pushed the lead to 10, while McPherson capped the scoring in the inning with a three-run homer to right center, his eighth blast of the season.
Rorex led off the fourth with a single for the Eagles, then scored their first run on a wild pitch. The Eagles added two more runs in the fifth, with the first scoring on a Wingate error. Reed added an RBI single to cut the lead to 10. An RBI groundout in the eighth brought the Eagles to within nine.
The ‘Dogs plated their final run of the game in the eighth on an RBI double from Tedder. The Eagles scored twice in the ninth, getting a two-run double down the right field line from Rogers to make it 14-6.
Sophomore right-hander Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.) got the win, improving to 4-3 on the year. He allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 8 2/3 innings of work, striking out seven while throwing 120 pitches. Junior right-hander Alex Britt (Salisbury, N.C.) took the loss, allowing 12 runs on 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings of work, falling to 2-2 on the year.
Game #2: Carson-Newman 5, Wingate 3
Senior outfielder Jonathan Dalton (Rutledge, Tenn.) was three-for-four with an RBI to lead the Carson-Newman attack in game two. Junior infielder Troy Zawadski (Shrewsbury, Mass.) added a one-for-two day with an RBI, while senior outfielder Evan Patterson (Knoxville, Tenn.) was one-for-three with two runs scored for the Eagles.
Yeung had a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate offense. McPherson was two-for-four with an RBI and run scored, while Karr was two-for-three with a double.
Wingate got on the board first, when Yeung lined his 10th homer of the year to right, a two-run shot to make it 2-0.
The Eagles cut the lead in half in the second on an RBI single from Zawadski. Carson-Newman scored twice in the fourth to take the lead. Both runs scored when junior infielder Lance Rorex (Chattanooga, Tenn.) flied out to center with the bases loaded. The runner on third scored via a sacrifice fly, while senior outfielder Cody Nix (Cartersville, Ga.) scored for second when the ball was mishandled in the outfield, giving the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
Carson-Newman added two more runs in the seventh. Junior infielder Aaron Vargas (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) drove home the first run with an RBI single, while an RBI single from Dalton made it 5-2.
The Bulldogs would not go quietly in the seventh. Senior pinch-hitter Brandon Santiago (Monroe, N.C.) lined a one-out single to left, while Vazquez reached on a two-out single, bringing the tying run to the plate. McPherson drove home Santiago with an RBI single to make it 5-3. Yeung came up with the tying run on base, but Carson-Newman closer Ryan Fillers (Greeneville, Tenn.) induced a game-ending foul out on the first pitch.
Fillers notched his third save of the year by retiring the game’s final batter. He preserved the win for junior right-hander Robby Thigpen (St. Petersburg, Fla.), who moves to 6-2 on the year. He allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of work, striking out five. Freshman right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 1-5. He allowed two earned runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings of work, striking out three.
The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday, hosting Catawba College in a non-conference game at 7 p.m. Carson-Newman will host Pfeiffer Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
