Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs pounded out 18 hits Tuesday afternoon en route to a 13-2 victory over visiting North Greenville University in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate moves to 3-0 on the year, while the Crusaders fall to 0-1 overall.

Sophomore infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) was five-for-six with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate attack. Senior first baseman Brad Cherry (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) had a double and three RBI, while freshman Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) added a double, homer, two RBI and two runs scored. Senior infielders Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) and Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) also connected on homers for the Bulldogs.

Allen Staton was two-for-five with a run scored to lead the NGU attack. Wheeler Smith went one-for-two with a run scored, while Tony Davila and Drew Lipscomb each drove in a run for the Crusaders.

North Greenville jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs, while a walk and a hit batsman plated the first two runs of the game.

Wingate answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second when Billings connected on his second homer of the season, a two-run shot to right to make it 2-2.

The Bulldogs took the lead in the third inning on Brown's RBI double to left center. He would then score when Prince reached on an error to make it 4-2.

Wingate added three more runs in the fifth. Senior outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) started the frame with a single, stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly from Cherry.  Brown then connected on his first homer as a Bulldog, a solo shot to right. Prince followed with a solo shot down the left field line to make it 7-2. Wingate has had back-to-back homers in all three games this season.

The Bulldogs plated four more runs in the sixth inning. Godinez started it off with a solo homer to left. An RBI single from sophomore outfielder Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) made it 9-2, while Cherry's two-run double to left center put the 'Dogs on top by nine.

Wingate closed out the scoring with two runs in the eighth. A pair of singles and a groundout put runners on second and third for junior outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) who delivered an RBI single to push the lead to double figures. Junior outfielder Nick Triplett (Shelby, N.C.) followed with an RBI single to make the final margin 13-2.

Redshirt junior left-hander Jordan Newsome (Matthews, N.C.) got the win, allowing two runs on three hits in five innings of work, striking out six. Hunter Dilworth took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in three innings of work, striking out four.

Five different Wingate relievers would combine for four shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out six. Redshirt freshman Hunter Hamilton (Troy, N.C.) allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings, while redshirt freshman Will Adams (Laurinburg, N.C.) struck out the only batter he faced. Junior right-hander Thomas Young (Cary, N.C.) struck out two in a perfect inning of relief, while freshman Hunter Morgan (Summerfield, N.C.) struck out two in 2/3 of an inning. Junior Dusty Ayscue (Louisburg, N.C.) got the final out of the game.

Wingate is back in action Friday, traveling to Lincoln Memorial to open a three-game SAC series at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs and Railsplitters meet for a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.