BOX SCORE

Belmont, N.C.----Wingate University junior designated hitter Jason Hunter (West Chester, Pa.) delivered with an RBI single in the top of the ninth to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 victory at Belmont Abbey College in NCAA Division II baseball action Wednesday afternoon. Wingate improves to 7-2 overall, while the Crusaders fall to 7-4 on the season.
 
Hunter and freshman catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) each went two-for-four with an RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Senior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) was one-for-two with a double and an RBI, while also drawing a pair of walks on the afternoon
 
Sophomore infielder Gabby Amor (Miami, Fla.) was one-for-two with two RBI to lead the Belmont Abbey attack. Junior infielder Emilio Pagan (Simpsonville, S.C.) was two-for-four with a run scored for the Crusaders.
 
Wingate got on the board first in the top of the first, taking a 1-0 lead. Senior infielder Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) knocked a one-out single through the middle, while McPherson followed by ripping an RBI double to right center to give the Bulldogs the lead.
 
The Crusaders were held hitless through their first four innings. The first hit came with one out in the fifth, when Pagan singled up the middle following a walk. Amor followed with a two-run double down the left field line to give Belmont Abbey a 2-1 lead.
 
Wingate answered in the seventh when senior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) reached on a wild pitch on a strikeout to start the inning. He went to second on a single from Hunter, then scored on an RBI single from Clark to tie the game at two.
 
The Wingate bullpen held the Crusaders scoreless in the seventh and eighth, while senior infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) led off the top of the ninth by drawing a walk. He went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Allison, then scored on an RBI single from Hunter to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.
 
Sophomore right-hander Stephen Vaughan (Wilmington, N.C.), working his third inning of relief, struck out the first batter in the bottom of the ninth. The Crusaders followed with back-to-back singles to put the tying run in scoring position. The Bulldogs turned to their closer, redshirt junior right-hander Josh Karr (Richmond, Va.). Karr induced a flyout against the first hitter he faced, which was followed by an infield single to load the bases with two outs. Karr struck out the game’s final hitter, notching his second save in as many days.
 
Vaughan got the win, improving to 2-0 on the year. He went 2 1/3 innings in relief without allowing a run, striking out two. Senior right-hander Justin Nygard (Wilson, N.C.) got the start, allowing two runs on two hits in five innings, striking out four. Karr pitched two-thirds of an inning for his third save of the season. Senior right-hander James White (Huntington, W.Va.) took the loss for the Crusaders, allowing a run in 2 1/3 innings of work.
 
Wingate returns to action Friday, opening conference play at home against Tusculum at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs and Pioneers meet for a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.