Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs pounded out 17 hits en route to an 11-9 victory over the 20th-ranked Braves of UNC Pembroke in NCAA Division II baseball action Wednesday night at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Bulldogs win their third straight, improving to 12-11 overall. Wingate is 10-4 in nonconference action in 2012. The Braves fall to 14-6 overall.
 
Junior designated hitter Jason Hunter (West Chester, Pa.) was four-for-four with a double, homer, five RBI and three runs scored to lead the Wingate attack. Senior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) was three-for-four with a homer and two runs scored. Senior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) added a triple and three runs scored for the Bulldogs.
 
Senior infielder Aaron Parnell (Benson, N.C.) was two-for-three with two RBI and a run scored to lead the UNCP attack. Senior outfielder Brad Bridgeman (Laurel Hill, N.C.) was two-for-five with a double, RBI and run scored. Senior infielder Josh Haley (Jackson Springs, N.C.) was one-for-three with an RBI and three runs scored.
 
The Braves jumped out to a quick lead on an RBI single from Parnell in the first. Wingate answered in the bottom of the inning when McPherson connected on his sixth homer of the year, a solo shot to right to tie it at one. Hunter added an RBI single to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.
 
Another Parnell RBI single in the third tied the game at two. An RBI groundout from Bridgeman put the Braves back on top, while another RBI groundout gave the Braves a two-run lead. Allison ripped a one-out triple in the third, then scored on Hunter’s RBI single to make it 4-3. Haley singled to start the fourth, stole second, then scored on an error to put the Braves on top 5-3.
 
Wingate responded with four runs in the fourth to take the lead. Redshirt junior first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) plated the first run with an RBI groundout. Hunter added a two-run double to give Wingate a 6-5 lead. He would score on a wild pitch to push the advantage to two. An RBI single from freshman infielder Jordan Edgerton (Mount Holly, N.C.), along with a bases-loaded walk tied the game at seven in the top of the fifth.
 
Hunter blasted his fourth homer of the year in the sixth, a solo shot to give the ‘Dogs an 8-7 lead. Wingate added three more runs in the eighth to take a four-run lead. An RBI single from freshman catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.), followed by a UNCP error, plated the first two runs. Senior infielder Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) added an RBI single to make it 11-7.
 
The Braves made it interesting in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. A sacrifice fly plated the first run, while Parnell scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-9. UNCP had runners on second and third when redshirt junior right-hander Josh Karr (Richmond, Va.) struck out the final hitter of the game to notch the win for the Bulldogs.
 
Senior right-hander Kyle Brady (Cincinnati, Ohio) got the win, improving to 1-1 on the year. He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out three. Sophomore left-hander Patrick McMahon (Charlotte, N.C.) took the loss, allowing a run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings, falling to 2-2 on the season.
 
The Bulldogs are back in South Atlantic Conference action Friday night, traveling to Newberry for a 6 p.m. start. UNC Pembroke visits Georgia College Saturday for a 1 p.m. Peach Belt Conference doubleheader.
 
(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.)