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Wingate, N.C.----The North Greenville University Crusaders plated seven runs in the first four innings Wednesday afternoon, hanging on for a 7-4 victory over Wingate University in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. NGU improves to 3-5 overall while the Bulldogs fall to 6-7 on the season.

Allen Staton was three-for-five with two doubles and three RBI to lead the North Greenville offense. Tyler Mitchell was two-for-four with two doubles and two RBI. Frank Polino and John Reinholz each homered for the Crusaders.

Junior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) was two-for-four with two homers and three RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Sophomore outfielder Michael Benitez (Miami, Fla.) added a double and an RBI for the Bulldogs.

Staton got the Crusaders on the board in the first with an RBI single. The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the first when Serra connected on his first homer as a Bulldog, a two-run shot to right to make it 2-1.

North Greenville answered with three runs in the second to take a 4-2 lead. Polino and Reinholz hit back-to-back homers to put NGU back on top. Mitchell added an RBI single to push the advantage to two.

The Crusaders scored three more runs in the fourth to take a 7-2 lead. Mitchell plated the first run with a sacrifice fly. Staton added a two-out, two-run double to center to make it 7-2.

Serra got Wingate back to within four when he led off the sixth inning with a solo homer to right. Redshirt senior infielder Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) followed by drawing a walk, then stole second. He would score on an RBI double from Benitez to make it 7-4.

Javy Taylor got the win for North Greenville, improving to 1-1. He allowed two runs on four hits in five innings, striking out four. Staton struck out four in two scoreless innings of relief, notching the save. Freshman right-hander CJ Harris (Clover, S.C.) took the loss, falling to 1-2. He allowed five earned runs on eight hits in three innings of work, striking out five. Freshman left-hander TJ Rinoski (Yorktown, Va.) tossed the final four innings without allowing a run, striking out three.

Wingate returns to action Friday, hosting Lenoir-Rhyne at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs and Bears meet for a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. North Greenville travels to Mount Olive Friday for a 2 p.m. start.