Wingate, N.C.----The Tusculum College Pioneers scored three runs in the first and used a solid start from senior right-hander Craig Goodman (Clearwater, Fla.) to open league play with a 9-2 victory over Wingate University in the SAC opener for both teams Friday night at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Pioneers improve to 8-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC, while the Bulldogs fall to 7-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
 
Junior infielder Matt Henriksen (Hingham, Mass.) went three-for-four with a double and two RBI to lead the Tusculum attack. Senior outfielder Alexi Colon (Vineland, N.J.) was two-for-four with a double and three runs scored, while junior infielder Cade Stallings (Knoxville, Tenn.) had an RBI and two runs scored for the Pioneers.
 
Senior infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) was two-for-four with a homer to lead the Wingate offense. Junior infielder James Tedder (Clemmons, N.C.) was two-for-two with an RBI, while freshman catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) added a pair of hits for the Bulldogs. Senior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) was held off the bases Friday night, ending a streak of 59 consecutive games of reaching base safely.
 
The Pioneers scored three in the first without a hit. After a flyout to start the inning, Colon walked, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, then scored on an error. Two more walks put runners on first and second with two outs. A fly ball to shallow center was dropped, allowing both runs to score.
 
An RBI single from senior outfielder Lukas Graves (St. Joseph, Ill.) in the fourth made it 4-0. Senior infielder Cody Coffman (Cape Coral, Fla.) led off the fifth with a double, then scored on an RBI single from sophomore outfielder Trey Drewery (Vale, N.C.) to push the lead to five.
 
Wingate got on the board in the bottom of the inning, with Tedder lining an RBI single through the right side. Wingate would load the bases later in the inning, but Goodman induced a pop out to get out of the frame.
 
Tusculum responded with three more runs in the sixth to take an 8-1 lead. Henriksen provided the big hit, a two-run single to put the Pioneers on top by seven. Colon started the eighth with a double, then scored on an RBI single from Stallings to make it 9-1.
 
Karr blasted a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth, his first of the year, to make the final scored 9-2.
 
Goodman got the win to improve to 3-0 on the year. He allowed one run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking just one. Junior right-hander Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 0-1. He allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking three. Senior right-hander Kyle Brady (Cincinnati, Ohio) pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the Bulldogs, striking out all four batters he faced.
 
The Bulldogs and Pioneers meet for a doubleheader Saturday. Game one was originally slated for a 1 p.m. start, but that has been moved to a 12:30 p.m. start.