Wingate, N.C.---- After honoring seven seniors playing their final home games, the Wingate University Bulldogs picked up a 8-5 win over Anderson University in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader to take their fifth straight weekend series in South Atlantic Conference play at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Field. The Trojans took a 11-0 lead after one inning in game two, then withstood Wingate’s rally, hanging on for a 12-9 win to salvage one game in the weekend series. The Bulldogs are 24-16 overall and remain in third place in the SAC at 12-9, while Anderson moves to 11-29 overall and 5-16 in the conference.

Game #1
Wingate 8, Anderson 5

Senior second baseman Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) went three-for-four with a homer and two runs scored to lead Wingate offensively. Classmate Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) also had three hits and a homer. Juniors James Tedder (Clemmons, N.C.) and Jason Hunter (West Chester, Pa.) each had two hits, two runs driven in and a run scored.

Anderson senior infielder Erick Sanderson (Hanahan, S.C.) led the Trojans going two-for-two with a homerun and two runs scored. Junior infielder Tony Price (Columbia, S.C.) drove in two runs.

The Trojans struck first thanks to the homer from Sanderson to lead off the top of the second inning. Wingate would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out single by Hunter that scored senior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.).

The Bulldogs would take the lead for good in the third inning. Vazquez led off the frame with a double and scored on a two-run shot from Karr, his 10th of the season. The ‘Dogs added another run in the fourth inning via a two-out hit from Tedder to make it 4-1.

Wingate pushed the lead to six with three runs in the sixth. Freshman designated hitter Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) led off the inning with a walk. Clark advanced to second on a groundout by Hunter and scored on a double by Tedder. Vazquez followed Tedder with a two-run homer, his sixth of the season, to make it 7-1

Anderson responded with three runs of their own in the seventh. The first two runs were plated against Wingate senior starter Justin Nygard (Wilson, N.C.) on a Bulldog error. Anderson senior outfielder Ryan Kirkland (Loganville, Ga.) added an RBI groundout to make it 7-4. Allison led off the bottom of the frame with a double and later scored on an Anderson error to move the lead back to four heading to the eighth.

The Trojans would score a run in the top of the ninth on another Wingate error and brought the go-ahead run to the plate, but Wingate senior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) tracked down a deep fly ball in right center to end the threat and the game.

Nygard improved to 3-3, going seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three. Anderson junior starter T.J. Estes (Rock Hill, S.C.) took the loss in five-plus innings, giving up five runs on eight hits to fall to 2-4.

Game #2
Anderson 12, Wingate 9

The Anderson offense sent 14 hitters to the plate in the top of the first, exploding for 11 runs on eight hits to jump out to a huge lead after one inning. Getting the start on the mound for AU, Sanderson delivered a pair of three-run homers in the frame, the first one coming off WU senior pitcher Ryan Fitzpatrick (Jacksonville, Fla.). The Trojans added a solo run the third to make it 12-0 after three.

Wingate would get on the board in the fourth against Sanderson, thanks to a three-run opposite field homer from Hunter. The ‘Dogs cut the deficit to eight one inning later. McPherson tripled to left center and scored on the very next pitch as junior infielder Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) ripped a double to left.

The Bulldog bullpen continued to hold the Trojan offense at bay and the Wingate bats responded with five more runs in the bottom of the sixth to continue the rally. Yueng added another RBI hit to start the scoring. After a walk to Allison loaded the bases, Hunter emptied them with his first triple of the season, to make it 12-8. Freshman designated hitter Michael Benitez (Miami, Fla.) followed a RBI single to scored Hunter and make it 12-9 heading to the seventh and final inning.

Anderson freshman reliever Landon Beck (Hartwell, Ga.) retired the ‘Dogs in order in the final frame to end the comeback. Sanderson improved to 3-4 on the year, allowing four runs and striking out three. Fitzpatrick took the loss to fall to 2-2 on the season. Hunter and Sanderson each finished with six RBI to lead their respective teams.

The Bulldogs wrapped up their home portion of the 2012 season Saturday afternoon and play their final nine regular season games on the road, starting at Barton on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Trojans are also in action Tuesday, hosting Erskine.

(Wingate University Director of Broadcasting and Productions and sports information assistant Ryan Brown wrote this article. Brown is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)