GAME ONE BOX       GAME TWO BOX

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior All-American Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) picked up right where he left off last season, driving in five runs to lead the Bulldogs to a 7-5 victory in game one of a doubleheader over Concord University (W.Va.) in NCAA Division II baseball action Saturday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Junior catcher Jason Hunter (West Chester, Pa.) had a double and homer to spark the offense in the 6-4 game two victory as Wingate moved to 2-0 on the season. Concord is 0-2 this year.

Game One: Wingate 7, Concord 5
 
McPherson was three-for-four with a homer, five RBI and two runs scored to lead the attack. Redshirt junior first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) also went three-for-four, while senior infielder Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) and freshman infielder Michael Godinez (Miami, Fla.) each had two hits and two runs scored for the Bulldogs.
 
Sophomore outfielder Bret Blevins (Owings, Md.) was two-for-four with a double, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Concord attack. Senior infielder Kevin Morrisroe (Chantilly, Va.) went two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored for the Mountain Lions.
 
Wingate struck early, plating a run in the first inning. Vazquez got things started with a  one-out triple to right. McPherson followed, lining a single to right center to make it 1-0. Godinez doubled to lead off the third inning, then scored on another RBI single from McPherson to push the lead to two.
 
Concord got on the board in the fourth, with senior outfielder Jacob Mays (Charles Town, W.Va.) starting the inning with a double, then stealing third. He would score on a sacrifice fly from Blevins to cut the lead in half. The Mountain Lions tied the game in the fifth on an RBI single from Morrisroe.
 
The Bulldogs had the answer in the bottom of the inning. After singles from Godinez and Vazquez, McPherson came up with two on and one out. The 2011 SAC and Region Player of the Year blasted his first homer of the year to right field, making it 5-2.
 
The Mountain Lions would not go away, scoring another run in the sixth when Blevins doubled down the left field line, then scored on an RBI single from freshman infielder Joe Camp (Potomac, Md.).
 
Wingate pushed the lead back to three in the seventh when McPherson scored on an RBI double from senior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.). Hunter led off the eighth with a single, then scored on an RBI groundout from Godinez to make it 7-3.
 
Concord scored twice in the ninth to make the final margin 7-5. Sophomore outfielder Zach Cloxton (Charleston, W.Va.) drove home the first run with an RBI double down the left field line. An RBI single from Blevins made it a two-run game. The Mountain Lions had a chance to make it a one-run game on the play, but freshman outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) threw out Cloxton trying to score from second on the play. Wingate senior right-hander Ryan Fitzpatrick (Jacksonville, Fla.) induced a groundout to end the game one batter later.
 
Junior right-hander Matt High (Peachland, N.C.) got the win in his Wingate debut, pitching one-third of an inning without allowing a run. Junior right-hander Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.) got the start, allowing one earned run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings of work, striking out four. Fitzpatrick worked two innings for the save, allowing two runs on five hits. Sophomore right-hander Ryan Weatherholtz (Manassas, Va.) took the loss for Concord, allowing five runs on 10 hits in five innings, striking out two.
 
Game Two: Wingate 6, Concord 4
 
Hunter was two-for-three with a double, homer, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Wingate attack. Spitz also went two-for-three with an RBI, while senior infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) had a double, two RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs.
 
Morrisroe went three-for-four with a run scored to lead the Mountain Lions in game two. Blevins and senior catcher Ian Humphrey (Poca, W.Va.) drove in two runs each in game two.
 
Both starters were dominant in the first four innings, keeping the game scoreless heading to the fifth. Wingate got on the board, scoring four times in the bottom of the fifth. Allison walked to lead off the inning, while Karr followed with an RBI double to left center. Hunter followed with the big blow of the inning, a two-run homer to right center to make it 3-0. Freshman catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) followed with a double, then scored on an RBI single from Spitz to push the lead to four.
 
Concord answered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. An error and a walk put two on with two outs for Humphrey, who ripped a double down the left field line to cut Wingate’s lead in half.
 
The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two more runs. McPherson walked to lead off the inning, reaching base safely for the 52nd consecutive game. Yeung followed with a walk, while both advanced on a sacrifice from Allison. A sacrifice fly from Karr plated McPherson, while Yeung scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-2.
 
The Mountain Lions scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to make it 6-4. Junior outfielder Randy Beard (Stanley, N.C.) led off the inning with a single, while Morrisroe followed with a double. Blevins followed with a two-run double to make it a two-run game. Concord loaded the bases, putting the tying run at second with two outs. Redshirt junior right-hander Josh Karr (Richmond, Va.) induced a popout from Humphrey to end the game.
 
Sophomore right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) got the win, allowing two unearned runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out three. Junior right-hander Devin Smith (Wytheville, Va.) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in four innings, striking out two.
 
The two teams are back in action Sunday, concluding the three-game series at 1 p.m. at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field.