Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs connected on four homers Wednesday night, jumping out to a 14-0 lead en route to an 18-16 victory over visiting Belmont Abbey College in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate improves to 13-3 overall, while the Crusaders fall to 11-5 on the year.

Freshman first baseman Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) had two homers and six RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Senior infielder Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) was three-for-four with a homer, three RBI and three runs scored, while junior outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) added a homer and two RBI. Senior outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) and sophomore infielder Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) each had three hits, an RBI and three runs scored, while sophomore infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) added two RBI and two runs scored.

Wingate jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Brown connected on his third homer of the year, a three-run shot to left.

The Bulldogs piled up eight more runs in the second to take an 11-0 lead. Billings started the scoring with a two-run double, while an RBI single from Barnette and RBI double from Spitz made it 7-0. Spitz would then score on a wild pitch, while Godinez followed with his fourth homer of the year, a three-run shot to left to put the 'Dogs on top by 11.

Wingate added to its lead in the third when Brown connected on his second homer of the night, a towering three-run shot to right to make it 14-0.

Belmont Abbey cut into the lead in the fifth, getting a two-run single from Anthony Dimino and a two-run homer from Levi wright to make it 14-4. The Crusaders cut the lead to eight in the sixth on a Ryan Allen RBI single and Conor Kwalwasser sacrifice fly.

Belmont Abbey scored seven times in the seventh to make it 14-13. The Crusaders took advantage of five Wingate errors in the frame while also drawing three walks. It was a sacrifice fly from Wright that brought the Crusaders within two, while Wingate's final error of the inning allowed the seventh run of the frame to score to make it a one-run game.

The Bulldogs responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Krebs got it started with a two-run homer to left, while a wild pitch would allow another run to score, making it 17-13.

Belmont Abbey scored two times in the eighth to make it a two-run game on RBI singles from Kwalwasser and Dimino.

Wingate scored one more run in the bottom of the eighth, taking an 18-15 lead thanks to a Belmont Abbey throwing error. Nick Nunziato started the ninth with a solo homer to make the final margin 18-16.

Redshirt junior left-hander Jordan Newsome (Matthews, N.C.) got the win, moving to 2-0. He allowed three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking four. Sophomore right-hander Cameron Price (Indian Trail, N.C.) got the final two outs of the game to notch his first save. Robert Taft took the loss, falling to 0-1. He allowed seven runs on five hits in one inning of work, striking out two and walking four.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, opening a three-game SAC series at Tusculum with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs and Pioneers meet for game three of the series Sunday at 1 p.m.