Box Score  

Forest City, N.C.----The second-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs erased a pair of three-run deficits Thursday afternoon, rallying for an 8-7 victory over fifth-seeded Tusculum College on day one of the Food Lion SAC baseball tournament at McNair Field. Wingate moves to 29-14 overall, while Tusculum falls to 26-20 on the season.

The Bulldogs will return to action Friday at 7:30 p.m., taking on the winner of Thursday night's Newberry vs. Lincoln Memorial game. Tusculum will face Anderson at 12 p.m. Friday in an elimination game.

Junior designated hitter Tyler Simmons (Charlotte, N.C.) was two-for-three with three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) was three-for-four with a triple, two RBI and a run scored. Junior outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) added two hits, an RBI and a run scored, while senior outfielder Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.) had a double, RBI and two runs scored. Senior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) added a double, RBI and run scored for the Bulldogs.

Trey Drewery was three-for-five with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Tusculum attack. John Topoleski added a pair of RBI, while Vinny Ferrara was two-for-four with three runs scored. Taylor Foster added a double, RBI and a run scored for the Pioneers.

Tusculum jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first, with Drewery providing the big blow, a three-run homer to right.

Wingate answered with two in the bottom of the frame. A walk, single and error loaded the bases for Simmons, who delivered a two-run single to make it 3-2.

Foster started the fourth with a double, then scored on an RBI groundout from Andrew Bowerman to make it 4-2.

The Bulldogs answered with two in the bottom of the frame to tie it. A walk, single and sacrifice put runners on second and third for Billings, who came through with a two-run single up the middle to make it 4-4.

Foster's RBI single in the fifth put the Pioneers back on top, while Topoleski's two-run single in the seventh put Tusculum on top by three.

Wingate again had the immediate answer, scoring twice in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to one. Serra started the inning with a walk, then went to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from Spitz. Simmons would then plate Spitz with an RBI groundout to make it 7-6.

After freshman right-hander Brandon Donahue (Charlotte, N.C.) shut down Tusculum in order in the top of the eighth, Billings started a one-out rally for Wingate with a single to right. He scored on an RBI double down the right field line from Somers to tie the game at seven. Serra followed with an RBI single to plate Somers, giving Wingate its first lead of the day.

Donahue made quick work of the Pioneers in the ninth, getting a pair of groundouts before ending the game with his third strikeout. Donahue got the win, moving to 3-1 on the year. He retired all six batters he faced, striking out half of them. Clark Ayers took the loss, falling to 3-3. He allowed two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.