Box Score

Jefferson City, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldogs plated four runs in the fifth inning Friday afternoon en route to a 5-3 victory at Carson-Newman University in South Atlantic Conference baseball action. The Bulldogs improve to 25-14 overall and 17-7 in the SAC. Carson-Newman falls to 11-14 overall and 20-22 in the conference.

Senior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) had a homer and three RBI to lead the Wingate attack, while junior catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) was two-for-four with a double and two RBI. Junior outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) went two-for-four with two run scored, while senior outfielder Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.) was three-for-five with a run scored.

Brandon Roberts went three-for-four with a double and three RBI to lead the Carson-Newman attack. Peter Rajkovich was two-for-four with two runs scored, while Evan Kirkpatrick added a double and a run scored.

Wingate jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Spitz got it started with a two-out single, then scored when Clark ripped an RBI double off the fence in left center.

Carson-Newman scored a pair of runs in the third, taking a 2-1 lead on a two-run single from Roberts.

The Bulldogs answered with four runs in the fifth to regain the lead. Singles from Somers and freshman infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) got the inning started. Serra followed with the big blow of the game, a three-run homer down the right field line to give the 'Dogs a 4-2 lead. Serra has a team-best five homers and is tied with Clark for the team lead with 36 RBI. Spitz followed the Serra homer with a single, while an RBI single from Clark made it 5-2.

A two-out single from Roberts in the bottom of the frame plated a run, making it 5-3. Senior right-hander Olen Little (Charlotte, N.C.) worked a 1-2-3 sixth, then allowed just a two-out single in the seventh. The Eagles got a two-out double in the eighth, but Little got out of the frame by inducing a groundout, then worked a 1-2-3 ninth.

Little moves to 8-1 on the season. The 2013 All-SAC and All-Region selection went the distance, allowing three runs on 10 hits while striking out six without walking a batter, throwing 115 pitches. Dustin Dunagan took the loss, falling to 2-6. He allowed five runs on 10 hits in nine innings of work, striking out 11 and walking two, throwing 140 pitches on the day.

The Bulldogs and Eagles meet for a doubleheader Saturday at 12 p.m.