Box Score  

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs got a solid start from senior right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) Friday night, while scoring nine runs in the final four innings to register a 10-1 victory over Coker College in South Atlantic Conference baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Bulldogs improve to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC. The defending regional champion Cobras fall to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Senior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) was three-for-four with a double, triple, three RBI and run scored to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) added two RBI and two runs scored, while junior outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) was three-for-five with a triple, RBI and two runs scored. Junior catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) had two doubles, an RBI and a run scored, while junior Tyler Simmons (Charlotte, N.C.) had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored.

Jarren Donato was one-for-four with an RBI to lead the Coker offense. Ernie Kirkwood went two-for-four with a double, while T.J. Giczkowski had a double and a run scored for the Cobras.

Wingate got on the board in the first, when Spitz led off the frame with a single, then went to third on a Serra single. He would score on a double play to make it 1-0.

That would be all of the scoring until the fifth, when Simmons scored on an RBI single from Billings to make it 2-0. Coker answered with a run in the sixth when Giczkowski doubled, then scored on an RBI single from Donato to make it 2-1.

The Bulldogs answered with a run in the bottom of the frame, regaining a two-run lead when junior infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) scored from first on an RBI double from Clark.

The 'Dogs added some insurance in the seventh, scoring three runs to make it 6-1. Spitz plated the first run with an RBI triple, while Serra followed with an RBI triple. He would score on a wild pitch to put Wingate on top by five.

The Bulldogs scored four more in the ninth to make the final margin 10-1. Clark doubled to start the frame, then scored on an RBI single from Simmons. Billings drove in his second run with a grounder up the middle, while Sera's two-run double capped the scoring on the night.

Currie moved to 2-0 on the year, allowing one run on seven hits in six innings of work. The preseason All-SAC selection struck out eight and walked just one, throwing 98 pitches. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Brown (Suffolk, Va.) worked the final three innings for the save, striking out five without allowing a hit. Alex Hernandez took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out one and walking two to fall to 0-2 on the year.

The Bulldogs and Cobras meet for a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. at Ron Christopher Stadium.