Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs overcame a four-run deficit in both games of a South Atlantic Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon, registering a 6-5 victory in game one and 5-4 win in game two over visiting Tusculum College at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Bulldogs improve to 13-3 overall and 8-3 in the SAC. The Pioneers fall to 8-8 overall and 5-6 in the conference.

Game One: Wingate 6, Tusculum 5

After falling behind 5-1, the Bulldogs got 7 1/3 shutout innings in relief from senior right-hander Stephen Vaughan (Wilmington, N.C.) while outscoring the Pioneers 5-0 in the final seven innings. Junior catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) drove in three runs in game one, while senior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) added a triple, two RBI and a run scored. Junior outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) and freshman infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) each scored a pair of runs for the Bulldogs.

Taylor Foster drove in a pair of runs to lead the Tusculum attack in game one, while Trey Drewery was two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored. Andrew Bowerman went one-for-three with an RBI and two runs scored for the Pioneers.

Tusculum jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, starting with an RBI single from Drewery. Foster added a two-out, two-run single to give the Pioneers a three-run lead.

Wingate answered with a run in the bottom of the frame when Billings scored on an RBI single from Clark. Tusculum added two more runs in the top of the second, taking a 5-1 lead on an RBI single from Bowerman.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to three in the third when Serra led off the frame with a single, went to second on a hit batsman, stole third, then scored on an RBI groundout from Clark.

Serra brought the Bulldogs to within one in the fourth when he ripped his league-best sixth triple of the season into the right field corner, plating a pair of runs to make it 5-4.

Wingate tied the game in the seventh, with Spitz starting the rally with a one-out single. He stole second, then went to third on a wild pitch. He scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly from sophomore outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.).

That would be all of the scoring until the bottom of the ninth. Spitz ripped a one-out double into the bottom of the fence in right field, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Clark came up against a drawn-in infield and delivered the game-winning RBI single, giving the 'Dogs the dramatic 6-5 walk-off win.

Vaughan was dominant in relief, allowing just one hit in 7 1/3 innings of work, striking out seven without walking a batter. After retiring the first eight hitters he faced, he allowed a batter to reach on an error and a single in the fifth, but got out of the inning with a groundout. A one-out error in the seventh was the only other hitter to reach against Vaughan, who retired the last seven batters he faced. He moves to 1-1 on the year. Clark Ayers took the loss in relief, allowing a run on two hits in two innings of work, striking out one and walking two.

Game Two: Wingate 5, Tusculum 4

Krebs went three-for-four with an RBI and run scored to lead the Wingate attack in game two. Clark added an RBI and a run scored, while junior infielders Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) and Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) combined for four hits and three runs scored.

Heath Comerford had a homer and three RBI to lead the Tusculum offense. Jeremiah Tullidge went two-for-four with a run scored for the Pioneers, while Nick Rodriguez was one-for-three with a run scored.

After two scoreless innings, Tusculum plated four runs in the top of the third. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. The first run scored on a wild pitch, while Comerford followed with a three-run homer to right center to give the Pioneers a four-run lead.

Wingate responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead in half. Prince, Godinez and Billings strung together three straight singles with one out to load the bases. Prince scored the first run on a wild pitch, while a sacrifice fly from Serra plated Godinez to make it 4-2.

The Bulldogs scored two more runs in the fourth to tie the game. Krebs singled to start the frame, then stole second. He scored on an RBI double from Clark to make it 4-3. Junior first baseman Brad Cherry (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) followed with an RBI single to tie the game at four.

That would be the score heading to the bottom of the seventh. Godinez started the frame by lining a double to right center. Serra was then intentionally walked with one out, while both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Spitz was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Krebs came to the plate and grounded one through the infield on the left side, giving Wingate the 5-4 victory.

Freshman right-hander Brandon Donahue (Charlotte, N.C.) got the win in relief, moving to 2-0 on the year. He allowed just one hit in one inning of relief. Senior right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) allowed four runs on five hits in six innings of work, striking out five. Billy Sivyer took the loss, falling to 0-1. He allowed a run on three hits in three innings of work, striking out four and walking two.

Wingate returns to action Friday, opening a three-game SAC series at home against Anderson at 6 p.m.