Box Score  

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) connected on the go-ahead three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday night, as the Bulldogs came back from a 7-1 deficit to earn a 9-7 victory over visiting Newberry College in South Atlantic Conference baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate improves to 10-8 overall and 5-2 in the SAC, while Newberry falls to 11-7 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

Sophomore catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) also had a three-run homer for the Bulldogs, going two-for-four on the night. Junior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) was two-for-five with a homer, while senior designated hitter Grant McCoury (Canton, Ohio) went two-for-four with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Redshirt senior infielder Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) added two hits and a run scored.

Ryan Cranmer was two-for-four with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Newberry offense. Nolan Schrenker added an RBI and a run scored, while Jermale Paige was two-for-five with a double and an RBI.

Newberry got on the board in the first when Albert Bauer lined a two-out RBI double to right to make it 1-0. Paige added a two-out RBI double of his own in the second to give the Wolves a two-run lead.

Serra got the Bulldogs on the board in the third, connecting on his third homer of the year to make it 2-1.

Newberry answered with five runs in the fourth. Schrenker started the scoring with an RBI single, while a Wingate error plated the second run. Cranmer followed with the big blow of the inning, a three-run homer to left center to put the Wolves on top 7-1.

Wingate’s rally started in the sixth. Yeung started it with a two-out single, then went to third on McCoury’s single. Clark followed by blasting his third homer of the year over the scoreboard in left, making it 7-4.

The Bulldogs completed their comeback in the eighth with five runs. Sophomore outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) started it by beating out an infield single to second. He scored on an RBI double from McCoury to get Wingate within two at 7-5. After a Clark single, redshirt sophomore first baseman Brad Cherry (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) drove home McCoury to make it a one-run game. Prince came to the plate with runners on first and second with one out. He hit a towering blast down the left field line on a 3-1 pitch, his first homer as a Bulldog to give Wingate a 9-7 lead.

Sophomore right-hander Brett Morgan (Clemmons, N.C.) retired the Wolves in order in the ninth to notch his second save of the year, registering a strikeout. Junior right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) got the win, improving to 2-1 on the year. He allowed seven runs on 12 hits in eight innings of work, striking out six and walking one. He threw 125 pitches on the night, keeping the Wolves off the scoreboard in his final four innings of work. Cole Cromer took the loss, falling to 2-2. He allowed four runs on three hits in one-third of an inning. Alex Roberts go the start, allowing four runs in seven innings of work, striking out five.

The Bulldogs and Wolves meet for a doubleheader Saturday, with game one starting at 1 p.m.