VIDEO: Senior outfielder Thomas Spitz postgame interview
VIDEO: Junior pitcher Tyler Brown postgame interview
VIDEO: Head coach Jeff Gregory postgame interview

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs used a three-run sixth inning to take the lead for good Sunday afternoon, defeating the 16th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears 9-6 in South Atlantic Conference baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate takes two of three in the weekend series, improving to 9-3 overall and 6-3 in the SAC. The Bears fall to 11-2 overall and 4-2 in the conference, after entering the weekend undefeated on the year and riding a 19-game winning streak.

Senior outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) had a triple, homer, four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate offense. Senior catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) added three hits, scoring two runs while also driving in a run, while sophomore infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) was two-for-three with two runs scored. Redshirt senior Brad Cherry (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) drove in a pair of runs, while freshman Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) was three-for-five with two doubles. Senior infielder Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) added two hits and two runs scored for the Bulldogs.

David Newcomer and Ivan Vieitez each had a homer and two RBI to lead the LRU attack. Brantley Rumford was three-for-five with two runs scored, while Ryan Perkins went four-for-five with a run scored for the Bears. Colby Dishmond added a double, RBI and run scored.

Wingate jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Spitz plated the first two runs with a towering homer to right field, his league-best sixth of the season to make it 2-0. Clark and Brown followed with singles, while a Cherry RBI groundout put the 'Dogs on top by three.

Lenoir-Rhyne cut into the lead in the third, slicing the lead to one on RBI singles from Newcomer and Will Thompson. The Bears scored two more times in the fourth, taking a 4-3 lead on a two-run homer from Vieitez.

The Bulldogs tied it in the bottom of the frame when senior infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) led off the inning with a single, went to third on a Godinez single, then scored on a wild pitch. LRU regained the lead in the fifth on a solo homer from Newcomer, making it 5-4.

Wingate again had the answer, tying the game at five when Clark singled, went to third on a double from Brown, then scored on Cherry's RBI groundout.

The Bulldogs went back on top in the sixth, scoring three times. Godinez started the frame with a single, then went to second when Billings drew a walk. Both scored when Spitz lined a two-run triple down the left field line, giving the preseason All-SAC selection a league-best 21 RBI this year. Clark followed with an RBI single, giving him his 20th RBI of the season, good for second in the conference to make it 8-5.

Wingate took a four-run lead in the seventh. Prince started the inning with a walk, then scored from first when a Billings single to center field was misplayed by the outfielder.

Lenoir-Rhyne scored a run in the top of the ninth, making the final margin 9-6 on a Dishmond RBI double.

Junior right-hander Tyler Brown (Suffolk, Va.) got the win, moving to 2-1 on the year. One day after picking up a save, Brown worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three and not walking a batter, throwing 88 pitches. Freshman left-hander Kory Behenna (Bahama, N.C.) piled up seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of work, allowing three runs on six hits. Wes McGuire took the loss for the Bears, allowing four runs on five hits in two innings, striking out two and walking one.

Wingate is back in action Friday night, opening a three-game series against Brevard at 6 p.m.