Wingate, N.C.----The Mars Hill University Lions scored a pair of runs in the top of the 10th inning Friday night en route to a 7-5 victory over Wingate University in South Atlantic Conference baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Lions improve to 10-14 overall and 5-10 in the SAC, while the Bulldogs fall to 18-9 overall and 10-9 in the conference.
Rayshelon Carolina went three-for-five with an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Mars Hill offense.
Nick Villalobos added a pair of RBI for the Lions, while
Christian Stampler drove in two runs.
Dylan Powers also drove in a run for Mars Hill.
Junior outfielder
Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) was two-for-three with a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman designated hitter
Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) added an RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs, while infielders
Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) and
Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) each added an RBI for Wingate.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. A pair of walks put runners on first and second, while two-out RBI singles from Brown and Krebs gave the 'Dogs a two-run lead.
Powers got Mars Hill on the board in the third with an RBI single. The Lions scored three times in the fourth to take the lead. Stampler's sacrifice fly tied the game at two, while Carolina added a sacrifice fly to give MHU the lead. A Wingate error allowed the third run of the frame to score, making it 4-2.
Krebs got Wingate to within a run in the fourth, connecting on his fifth homer of the season, a solo shot to center to make it 4-3. The Lions regained a two-run lead in the fifth when Stampler was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Bulldogs cut the lead back to one in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore infielder
Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) led off the inning with a single, stole second, then scored on Barnette's RBI single.
Wingate tied the game with a run in the sixth. A pair of walks put two runners on base, while a passed ball moved the runners to second and third. Godinez plated Brown with an RBI single, tying it at five.
That would be all of the scoring until the top of the 10th. A walk and wild pitch put
Evan Rogers on second base, while Carolina followed with a sharp single to left to put runners on first and third. Villalobos followed with a pinch-hit two-run single to right center, giving the Lions a 7-5 lead.
That would be enough for
Chandler Young, who was dominant in six relief innings. He allowed one unearned run on just one hit, striking out six and walking five, throwing 91 pitches to move to 2-0 on the year. Sophomore right-hander
Brandon Donahue (Charlotte, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 0-2. He allowed two runs on two hits in one inning of work. Redshirt freshman right-hander
Hunter Hamilton (Troy, N.C.) tossed 4 2/3 shutout relief innings, striking out four while allowing four hits, throwing 75 pitches.
The Bulldogs and Lions are back in action Saturday, meeting for a doubleheader at Ron Christopher Stadium, with game one starting at 1 p.m.
