Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  

Jefferson City, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldogs swept a doubleheader at Carson-Newman University Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference baseball action, winning game one 4-0 while completing the weekend sweep with a 7-5 victory in game two. The Bulldogs move to 27-14 overall and 19-7 in the SAC, while the Eagles fall to 20-24 overall and 11-16 in the conference. Wingate has now won 11 straight games against Carson-Newman. The sweep also moves the Bulldogs into first place in the SAC standings, one-half game ahead of Catawba, who still has one game remaining this weekend.

Game One: Wingate 4, Carson-Newman 0

Senior right-hander Stephen Vaughan (Wilmington, N.C.) tossed 8 1/3 shutout innings to lead the 'Dogs to the 4-0 victory in game one. Junior infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) and senior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) each had two hits and an RBI to lead the Wingate offense, while junior catcher Tyler Simmons (Charlotte, N.C.) was three-for-four with two runs scored. Senior outfielder Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.) added a hit and an RBI for the Bulldogs.

Wingate took a 1-0 lead in the second, getting a two-out single from Simmons, who scored on an RBI double from Prince.

The Bulldogs added three more runs in the seventh inning. Simmons got it started with a leadoff single, while scoring on a squeeze bunt from freshman infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.). Somers followed with an RBI single, while Serra's RBI single made it 4-0.

That would be plenty for Vaughan. The Eagles loaded the bases in the second, but Vaughan got out of it by inducing an inning-ending groundout. After a 1-2-3 third, he worked around a one-out single by getting an inning-ending double play, then retired the Eagles in order in the fifth and sixth. A one-out single in the seventh was caught trying to steal second, while Vaughan worked around a one-out walk in the eighth by getting two flyouts.

Carson-Newman got runners on first and second with one out in the ninth. The Bulldogs went to the bullpen, bringing in freshman right-hander Brandon Donahue (Charlotte, N.C.), who struck out both hitters he faced to notch his second save of the year.

Vaughan moved to 2-3 on the year, allowing just four singles in 8 1/3 innings, striking out five while lowering his ERA to 3.40 for the season. Qunton Yocum took the loss, falling to 3-5. He allowed four runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking two.

Game Two: Wingate 7, Carson-Newman 5

Junior catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) had two RBI and a run scored to lead the Wingate attack in game two. Junior first baseman Brad Cherry (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) had three hits and two run scored, while Somers went two-for-four with a double, RBI and run scored. Junior shortstop Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) added an RBI and a run scored, while Serra had two hits and a run scored.

Bo Ausmus went four-for-four with a triple, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Carson-Newman offense. Evan Kirkpatrick went two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored, while Peter Rajkovich added a hit and an RBI for the Eagles.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Somers, Serra and junior outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) started the game with singles to load the bases. Clark followed with a two-run single, while sophomore outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) added an RBI single to make it 3-0. A Carson-Newman error allowed the fourth run of the frame to score.

The Eagles cut the lead in half in the second, starting with an RBI double from Evan Jurjecvic. Kirkpatrick added an RBI single to make it 4-2.

The Bulldogs added a run in the third when Cherry singled, then scored on an RBI double from Prince to make it 5-2. The Eagles plated two more runs in the bottom of the frame to make it a one-run game. Ausmus provided the big blow of the inning, a two-run triple to make it 5-4.

Wingate regained a two-run lead in the sixth. Godinez started the inning with a single, then scored on an RBI double from Somers to make it 6-4. An RBI single from Rajkovich in the bottom of the inning again cut the lead to one, making it 6-5.

The Bulldogs added one more insurance run in the top of the seventh, loading the bases via a single, walk and error. Godinez was then hit with the bases loaded, making the final margin 7-5.

Senior right-hander Ben Currie (Clemmons, N.C.) got the win, moving to 8-1. He allowed five runs on nine hits in in 5 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking one. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Brown (Suffolk, Va.) worked the final 1 1/3 innings without allowing a run on two hits, striking out two to notch his second save of the year. Vince Apicella took the loss, falling to 2-3. He allowed four runs on five hits in one-third of an inning.

Wingate is back in action Tuesday, traveling to North Greenville for a 3 p.m. start. The Bulldogs wrap up conference play at home next weekend, opening a three-game SAC series against Lincoln Memorial Friday at 6 p.m.