Forest City, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs pounded out 17 hits, while getting a solid start from sophomore right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) en route to a 12-4 victory over Brevard College on day one of the 2012 Food Lion SAC baseball SAC tournament. Wingate wins its fifth straight SAC Tournament game, improving to 29-21 overall. The Bulldogs will take on Carson-Newman Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Brevard falls to 27-22, and will face Tusculum Friday at 3:45 p.m.
 
Senior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) went three-for-five with a homer and three RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) added a double, triple and four RBI, while senior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) went three-for-four with three runs scored. Freshman catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) added a double and two RBI.
 
I thought Ben Currie was exceptional tonight,” head coach Jeff Gregory says. “He executed the game plan, was very efficient, and really set the tone. This is obviously a good start, but we still have a long way to go. This group has been here before, so we have the confidence. Any time you have veterans like this team does, you are going to be confident.”
 
Wingate got on the board in the third when redshirt junior first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) lined an RBI single to left center. Brevard answered in the bottom of the frame when Champ Stuart ripped a two-out double off the wall in left, tying it at one.
 
The Bulldogs responded with three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Allison and Clark started the frame with singles, while senior infielder Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) drove home the first run with a bunt single. Spitz added an RBI double down the left field line, while a wild pitch plated the third run of the inning.
 
Wingate added to its lead in the sixth, plating two more runs. Allison got the scoring started with an RBI single to right. Clark followed by ripping an RBI double down the left field line, making it 6-1.
 
Brevard plated three runs in the seventh to make it a two-run game. The first run scored on a Wingate error, while a sacrifice fly from Randy O’Dell made it 6-3. Another Bulldog error plated the final run of the frame, making it a two-run game.
 
The Bulldogs had the emphatic answer, plating five runs in the eighth. The first two scored on Allison’s nation’s-best 21st homer of the year, a two-run shot to left. Wingate would then load the bases with two outs, bringing Spitz to the plate. The freshman delivered with a three-run triple to right, putting the ‘Dogs on top 11-4. An RBI groundout from Clark in the ninth made the final margin 12-4.
 
Currie got the win, improving to 7-3 on the year. He allowed three earned runs on four hits in seven innings of work, striking out four and walking just one. Currie retired the side in order in four of his seven innings of work. Zach Joyce took the loss, falling to 2-5. He allowed four runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, striking out two and walking two.