BOX SCORE

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie Wednesday night’s game, but Erskine College answered with a run in the top of the ninth to take a 6-5 victory in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Flying Fleet improve to 25-14 overall, while Wingate falls to 24-19 overall on the season.

Senior John Bolding (Pickens, S.C.) had a homer and three RBI at the plate for Erskine, while also nailing down the save. Senior outfielder Brian Laznik (Chardon, Ohio) was two-for-four with a homer and two RBI, while freshman infielder Zack Smith (Lexington, S.C.) was two-for-five with a triple and two runs scored for the Flying Fleet.

Junior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) was two-for-four with a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) was three-for-four with a double and two runs scored, while junior shortstop Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) had a pair of hits and a run scored for the Bulldogs.

Wingate got on the board first in the fourth, with Yeung and junior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) starting the inning with back-to-back singles. Yeung would score the first run on an Erskine error, while Allison would score on a perfect squeeze bunt from freshman infielder Cody Shelton (Charlotte, N.C.) to make it 2-0.

Erskine answered in the sixth, scoring three times to take the lead. Bolding tied the contest with a two-run homer to left, his ninth of the year. Sophomore infielder Drew Willingham (Greenwood, S.C.) drove the next pitch over the fence in right, his seventh blast of the year, to give the Flying Fleet a 3-2 advantage.
A solo homer from Laznik in the seventh put Erskine on top by two. Smith led off the eighth with a triple, then scored on an RBI groundout from Bolding to make the score 5-2.

Wingate responded in the bottom of the frame, scoring three times to tie the proceedings 5-5. Vazquez led off the inning with a single and scored when McPherson blasted his 10th homer of the season to right center, a two-run shot to make the tally 5-4. Yeung followed by lining one off the fence in right center for a double. He would score on a squeeze bunt from senior outfielder Brandon Santiago (Monroe, N.C.) to tie the game at five.

Freshman infielder Will Huff (Sugarhill, Ga.) led off the ninth with a walk, then went to third on a throwing error. He would score the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout from Laznik, making the margin 6-5.

Bolding would make that lead stick, notching his first save of the year. With the tying run on base and two outs, Vazquez flied out to the fence in right to end the game.

Bolding had a strikeout and a walk in the ninth, without allowing a hit. Senior right-hander Atlee Pearson (Lyman, S.C.) got the win, improving to 5-1 overall. He did not allow a hit in two-thirds of an inning. Senior right-hander Drew Boyer (Millett, Alberta) took the loss, allowing an unearned run without giving up a hit in the ninth, walking one.

Wingate returns to action Friday, traveling to Anderson (S.C.) University for a 6 p.m. start. Erskine travels to number three Mount Olive College Friday for a 2:30 p.m. start. 

Wingate University baseball statistics
http://www.wingatebulldogs.com/custompages/baseball/2011/teamstat.htm