Wingate, N.C.----The St. Andrews University Knights scored all nine of their runs in the first five innings, taking a 9-5 victory over the Bulldogs of Wingate University in NCAA Division II baseball action Tuesday night at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Knights improve to 8-16 overall, while Wingate falls to 14-13 on the season.
 
Freshman outfielder Michael Durig (Valrico, Fla.) was two-for-five with a homer and four RBI to lead the attack for the Knights. Junior infielder Travis Holland (Stafford, Va.) added two hits and a run scored, while junior outfielder Matt McCue (Radford, Va.) added a hit and two runs scored.
 
Senior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) had a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Redshirt junior first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) was three-for-five with a double and an RBI, while senior infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) had a double and two runs scored.
 
The Knight jumped out to a quick lead, scoring four runs in the top of the first. A single and two walks loaded the bases for Durig, who blasted the first pitch of the at-bat over the scoreboard in left for a grand slam, making it 4-0. 
 
Wingate cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame on McPherson’s eighth homer of the year, a two-run shot to center to make it 4-2. Freshman catcher Connor North (Jasper, Ga.) led off the second with a double for the Knights, then scored on a single from junior infielder Richard Campolong (Jacksonville, Fla.) to push the lead to three.
 
Freshman outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) ripped a triple to center to start the bottom of the second, then scored on an RBI groundout from freshman outfielder Blake Throneburg (Graham, N.C.), making it 5-3.
 
Freshman infielder Tyler Nolan (Bennettsville, S.C.) made it 6-3 with an RBI single in the third. The Knights added three more runs in the fifth, scoring two runs on a Wingate error, while the third run of the frame scored on a double play, making it 9-3.
 
Wingate scored a run in the bottom of the fifth on Yeung’s RBI double. An RBI single from freshman pinch-hitter Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) got the Bulldogs to within five.
 
The Bulldogs still had two on in the bottom of the sixth when junior right-hander Andrew Pelfrey (Mount Airy, N.C.) entered the game in relief. The knuckleballer induced a popout to get the Knights out of the inning. Pelfrey worked the last three innings of the game without allowing a run, striking out two while scattering three hits to notch his first save of the season.
 
Freshman right-hander Chris Denno (Stafford, Va.) got the win for the Knights, improving to 1-3 on the year. He allowed five runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking four. Freshman left-hander Jordan Newsome (Matthews, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 0-2. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits in four innings, striking out three. Sophomore right-hander Stephen Vaughan (Wilmington, N.C.) was dominant in five innings of relief, striking out seven while allowing just two hits.
 
The Bulldogs return home Wednesday night hosting Belmont Abbey at 6 p.m. Wingate continues its seven-game home stand Friday night, opening a three-game SAC series against Lincoln Memorial at 6 p.m.