Box Score
Boiling Springs, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore Michael Benitez (Miami, Fla.) delivered a two-out, bases-loaded RBI single in the 12th inning, lifting the Bulldogs to a 7-6 victory over Gardner-Webb University Wednesday night at J.H. Moss Stadium. Wingate improves to 19-12 overall with the victory, while Gardner-Webb falls to 12-8-1 overall.
 
In the 12th, Wingate loaded the bases, thanks to three singles by sophomore shortstop Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.), freshman outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) and junior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.). Sophomore center fielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) reached on a fielder’s choice, forcing Godinez at home. One out later, Benitez delivered the game-winner.

In the bottom of the 12th, Wingate senior reliever Grant McCoury (Canton, Ohio) got a quick fly ball and a strikeout before issuing a walk. GWU sophomore pinch runner Alex Newman (Mocksville, N.C.) stole second and moved to third on a balk, but McCoury ended the game with his fourth strikeout of the night.
 
GWU scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, tying the game at 6-6. Sophomore catcher Brantley Smith (Indian Trail, N.C.) started the rally with a walk. Junior outfielder JJ Nazzaro (Puyallup, Wash.) followed with a bunt single to put runners on first and second.
 
A wild pitch moved the runners to third and second, respectively. Sophomore infielder Ryan Hodge (Matthews, N.C.) walked to load the bases. Junior outfielder Scott Coleman (Wilmington, N.C.) received an RBI walk to score Smith. Nazzaro scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
 
Gardner-Webb had a golden chance to win the game in the ninth, getting sophomore infielder Henry Rundio (Dallas, N.C.) on board with a lead-off single. Rundio stole second and moved to third on an interference call – putting him 90 feet away from ending the game.
 
A strikeout by senior pitcher Kyle Brady (Cincinnati, Ohio) settled things down for Wingate. An intentional walk to GWU freshman infielder Tyler Best (Chesapeake, Va.) set up a potential double play. Gardner-Webb attempted a suicide squeeze bunt on the next play, but the pitch was high and Brantley Smith’s attempt missed. Rundio was tagged out in a run down and Best was thrown out trying to advance to third to end the frame.
 
Wingate had a prime chance itself to go ahead in the 10th, with Serra’s double leading off the frame. He moved to third on a groundout. After an intentional walk, Gardner-Webb senior reliever Jeff Howell (Kings Mountain, N.C.) recorded the second out of the inning via a strikeout. Yeung attempted to steal second on the next pitch, but Serra strayed too far off the bag at third and was thrown out.

Gardner-Webb stranded one runner in the 10th, and neither team got a man on base in the 11th inning. Wingate got an infield chopper to first base from Godinez to lead off the 12th. With the second baseman covering when Godinez took off for second during the next at bat, Krebs’ looper landed on the back edge of the infield to put a pair on board.
 
Serra singled when attempting a sacrifice bunt to load the bases with no outs, but Gardner-Webb senior reliever Brock Wilson (Big Island, Va.) nearly got out of the jam with the game still tied. Spitz’ fielder’s choice ground forced Godinez at the plate for the first out. Wilson struck out Yeung for the second out. Benitez chopped a single to shortstop to score Krebs for the 7-6 lead.
 
Wingate never trailed, as the visiting Bulldogs opened the non-conference game with three runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Serra and Spitz walked to put runners on first and second. Wingate redshirt senior second baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) followed with an RBI single to score Serra.
 
A wild pitch moved Spitz to third and Yeung to second. Sophomore designated hitter Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) reached on an error, plating Spitz. Junior third baseman Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) followed with a sacrifice fly to score Yeung.
 
Gardner-Webb answered quickly with two runs in the bottom half of the first, getting a lead-off single from Nazzaro and back-to-back doubles with two outs from senior outfielder Benji Jackson (Huntersville, N.C.) and senior infielder Brad Collins (Weddington, N.C.).
 
GWU got an RBI double from Nazzaro in the fourth and an RBI double in the fifth from Collins to pull within 5-4. Wingate redshirt senior catcher Jason Hunter (West Chester, Pa.) hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth, padding the visitors’ lead to 6-4.
 
McCoury picked up his first Wingate win, hurling three scoreless frames with only one hit allowed, one walk and four strikeouts. Freshman CJ Harris (Clover, S.C.) allowed three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of a no decision.
 
Wingate had eight hits in the game, with four coming in the final at bat. Serra (two-for-four, double, run) was the only Bulldog with more than one hit. Seven different Wingate players had one RBI each.
 
Wilson took the loss in relief for Gardner-Webb. Sophomore Beau Hilton (Jacksonville, Fla.) worked only 3.2 innings in the start, allowing one hit. Hilton did walk five and allowed five runs (one earned) after the Runnin’ Bulldogs committed three errors during his outing.
 
Gardner-Webb managed 12 hits in the game, with Nazzaro (three-for-six, 2B, RBI, SB), Jackson (two-for-five, 2B, RBI) and Collins (two-for-five, 2 2B, 2 RBI) leading the way. The Runnin’ Bulldogs stranded 13 runners on the evening, batting four-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

Both teams play key conference road games Friday night. First-place Wingate visits Anderson (S.C.) for a 6 p.m. South Atlantic Conference encounter. Gardner-Webb travels to Myrtle Beach for a Big South series at pre-season favorite Coastal Carolina. First pitch for Friday’s game is set for 6 p.m.
 
(Special thanks to Gardner-Webb Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Marc Rabb for providing information for this story.)