Box Score  

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs moved into a three-way tie atop the league standings with a 6-4 victory over visiting Carson-Newman University in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Friday night at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate improves to 16-12 overall and 9-4 in the SAC. The Eagles fall to 13-11 overall and 9-4 in the conference. The two teams are joined by Catawba at the top of the conference standings.

Sophomore infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) went three-for-four with a double and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Sophomore shortstop Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) was two-for-four with an RBI and run scored, while redshirt senior infielder Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) added a pair of hits, an RBI and run scored for the Bulldogs. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Brad Cherry (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) added a homer.

Kevin Franchetti was two-for-four with a homer and two RBI to lead the Carson-Newman attack. Bo Ausmus was one-for-two with a triple, RBI and run scored, while Peter Rajkovich scored a pair of runs for the Eagles.

Rajkovich reached on an error to start the game, then went to second on a sacrifice. He would move to third on a single, then score on a sacrifice fly from Ausmus to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Wingate answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) lined a two-out triple to left center, extending his hitting streak to 20 games. He would score on an RBI single from Yeung to make it 1-1.

Franchetti put the Eagles back on top in the second, connecting on a solo homer to left center to start the inning.

The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game in the third, plating two runs. A pair of walks, along with a single from Yeung loaded the bases with two outs. Prince delivered with a two-run single to left, giving Wingate a 3-2 advantage.

Cherry led off the fourth with his fourth homer of the year, a solo shot to left to push the advantage to two.

Carson-Newman scored a pair of runs in the sixth to tie it. A walk and a single put runners on first and third with one out. Ausmus ripped an RBI triple down the right field line, while an RBI single from Franchetti made it 4-4.

The Bulldogs had the answer in the bottom of the frame. Godinez reached on a one-out single, then stole second. He would score on an RBI triple from freshman outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) to make it 5-4.

Carson-Newman threatened in the seventh, getting runners on second and third with two out, but right-hander Kyle Brady (Cincinnati, Ohio) came out of the bullpen to induce an inning-ending flyout.

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the eighth when Godinez delivered a two-out RBI single to make it 6-4.

Brady shut down the Eagles in order in the ninth to register his first save of the year. He retired all seven batters he faced, striking out one. He saved it for junior right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) who improves to 3-1 on the year. He allowed three earned runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of work, striking out four. Chris Armstrong took the loss, falling to 4-3. He allowed six runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out four. It is the first time this season Armstrong has allowed more than three hits in a start.

The Bulldogs and Eagles are back in action Saturday, meeting for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. at Ron Christopher Stadium.