Box Score  

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs turned a 9-3 deficit into a one-run game Sunday afternoon, but could not complete the comeback, as Anderson University held on for a 10-9 victory over the Bulldogs in the final contest of a three-game SAC series at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Trojans improve to 9-15 overall and 7-5 in the SAC. Wingate sees its seven-game winning streak come to an end, falling to 15-4 overall and 10-4 in the conference.

Steven Cooper went four-for-five with a homer and five RBI to lead the Anderson attack. Jonathan Zalud added a pair of RBI, while Brett Cash was two-for-six with an RBI and two runs scored. Josh Hickman went three-for-five with an RBI and run scored, while Kyle Bailey was two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored for the Trojans.

Junior catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) was two-for-four with three RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Junior shortstop Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) went two-for-three with two RBI and a run scored, while senior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) was two-for-four with two RBI and a run scored. Junior infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) had a pair of hits and two runs scored for the Bulldogs.

Anderson jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on Cooper's two-run homer. Wingate tied it in the bottom of the frame on Clark's two-run single.

The Trojans scored three more in the third, taking a 5-2 lead on Zalud's two-run double. An RBI single from Cash in the fourth gave Anderson a four-run lead.

Wingate cut into the lead in the fifth when Prince led off the frame with a double, then scored on an RBI single from Godinez. The Trojans had the answer, scoring three runs in the seventh to push the lead to six. Bailey drew a bases loaded walk to plate the first run, while Cooper's two-run double made it 9-3.

The Bulldogs plated five runs in the seventh to cut the lead to one. Freshman infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) drove home the first run with an RBI double, while a two-run single from Serra made it a three-run game. RBI single from Clark and junior first baseman Brad Cherry (Mt. Pleasant, S.C) made it 9-8.

Anderson responded with a run in the eighth, pushing the lead to two on Hickman's RBI single.

Wingate started a two-out rally in the ninth when Cherry drew a walk, then scored on an RBI double from senior pinch-hitter Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.). The tying run was stranded on second as Anderson's Evan Jordan finished the game with a strikeout.

JT Trujillo got the win in relief, moving to 2-3. He allowed six runs on six hits in two innings of work, striking out one. Jordan got the save, working the final two innings while allowing a run on four hits and striking out three. Senior right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on 11 hits in five innings of work, striking out three.

Wingate is back in action Tuesday, traveling to Armstrong for a 6 p.m. start.