Baseball | 2/1/2016 1:05:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs open the 2016 season Tuesday afternoon, hosting Lander at 3 p.m. on ESPN3. Wingate went 33-26 in 2015, winning the SAC Tournament title while earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. It was the first NCAA appearance since 2011. Wingate picked up its first tournament victory since 1995.

The Bulldogs lost five starting position players off the SAC championship team, but still have plenty of firepower returning, including consensus All-American Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) and reigning SAC Freshman of the Year Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.). In addition, outfielders Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) and Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) are preseason All-SAC selections, along with sophomore right-hander Hunter Hamilton (Troy, N.C.). Wingate was picked fourth in the preseason SAC coaches poll.

"Our expectations for this season are the same as they always are and even more so coming off the NCAA Regional appearance from 2015," head coach Jeff Gregory says. "We want to play consistent baseball all season long and put ourselves in a position to be relevant at the end of the season. We are playing a strong schedule this year, conference and non-conference, and we are looking to forward to the challenge."

Position Preview

Infield

Wingate will have a new look infield, but will still have many solid options to fill the spots. "We have a lot of depth on the infield and will have a lot of options throughout the season," Gregory says.

Barnette will start the season at third base. The preseason All-SAC selection started six games in the infield last year, while making 49 starts in the outfield. The UNC transfer finished fourth in the SAC with 13 homers during his sophomore season, ranking sixth with 55 RBI and ninth in total bases.  "Colby has done a good job transitioning back to the infield after playing outfield for us last year," Gregory says.  "He had a strong fall and should provide some good leadership for us."

At shortstop the Bulldogs will look to sophomore Brett Branton (Athens, Ga.). He appeared in 10 games last year, making one start, collecting a hit and scoring a run. "Brett is an athletic player that has played very well for us this spring," Gregory says.

The Bulldogs will turn to a freshman to start the season at second base in Reece Daniel (Asheboro, N.C.). "Reece is another player that has done very well in practice," Gregory says. "He has had a strong spring for us and can play multiple spots on the infield."

Wingate has another newcomer at first base in freshman Zach Little (Troutman, N.C.). "Zach has tremendous range at first base and has done well on the move from the middle of the infield to first base," Gregory says.

In addition, Gregory is confident that several other players will contribute in the infield throughout the year. "Brown, Austin Turgeon (Athens, Ga.), David Nash (Monroe, N.C.), Bailey Connell (Waxhaw, N.C.) and Patrick Watson (Tifton, Ga.) are all very good defenders and good players that will do a lot for us on the infield this year," Gregory says.

Outfield

The starting outfield will be experienced for the Bulldogs, with the All-American Billings moving from second base to center field. He will be joined by seniors Krebs and Tyler Napierala (Lebanon, Pa.).

Billings hit .408 during his sophomore year to pick up first team All-American honors. He finished second in the nation in hits and runs scored, connecting on 10 homers and 16 doubles while stealing 26 bases in 27 attempts. "Shane has adjusted quickly to the move to center field after being in the infield his first two seasons," Gregory says. "He has quite a bit of range there and we will count of him being a catalyst for what we do offensively."

Krebs started 50 games in the outfield for the Bulldogs in 2015. The preseason All-SAC selection hit .299 last year with nine homers, 14 doubles, 29 RBI and 44 runs scored. He earned a spot on the All-NCAA Region Tournament Team. "Bill has continued to play at a high level that really started towards the end of last season," Gregory says. "He has continued to be a leader for this team and we will rely on him throughout the season."

Napierala will start the season in left field for the Bulldogs. He appeared in 28 games during his first season at Wingate in 2015, making three starts. Napierala had a double, homer, three RBI and five runs scored on the year. "Tyler has been very solid throughout the fall and spring," Gregory says. "He played a limited role last year but we look for him to play a bigger role in what we do this season."

There are several more players Gregory sees contributing in the outfield throughout the year for the Bulldogs. "Watson, Matthew Grecco (Norfolk, Va.), Kemper Patton (Sumter, S.C.) and Banks Wise (Spartanburg, S.C.) are all guys that have done good jobs throughout the year. There are some left handed bats in this group and Grecco has been very consistent early on in his time at Wingate."

Catcher

There are four players that could see time behind the plate for the Bulldogs in 2016. Senior Tyler Simmons (Charlotte, N.C.) appeared in 22 games last year, hitting .292 with a triple, three RBI and eight runs scored. He will be joined by redshirt freshman Micah Goodwin (Rougemont, N.C.), junior transfer Logan Pingley (Madison Heights, Va.) and freshmen Andrew Llewellyn (Moseley, Va.). "Simmons, Goodwin, Llewellyn and Pingley give us what we feel like are a lot of options behind the plate," Gregory says. "They have competed well during the fall and spring."

Starting Pitchers

Wingate will have plenty returning to the mound this season. Senior left-hander Jordan Newsome (Matthews, N.C.) along with sophomore left-hander Kory Behenna (Bahama, N.C.) and junior right-hander Brandon Donahue (Charlotte, N.C.) will be depended on as starters, along with Hamilton, Turgeon and redshirt sophomore Jimmy Doolittle (Charlotte, N.C.).

Newsome made 13 appearances including nine starts in 2015, posting a 2-1 record in 44 1/3 innings, striking out 33. "Jordan has been very consistent throughout the year," Gregory says. "He continues to get better and I look for him to be good for us this year."

Behenna appeared in 16 games as a freshman, making seven starts while going 2-0, piling up 51 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. "Like Jordan, Kory has been very good throughout practices in the fall and spring. I think he has done a great job in progressing from his freshman year to his sophomore year."

Donahue made 17 appearances out of the Wingate bullpen in 2015, picking up three wins and two saves. He collected 25 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. "Brandon has been relieving for us his first two seasons, but will transition into a starting role this year," Gregory says.

Hamilton is a preseason All-SAC selection after going 3-3 with a 3.99 ERA in 2015, leading all Wingate starters in ERA. He piled up 65 1/3 innings on the year, notching a complete game in the SAC Tournament for the Bulldogs. "Hunter had a really good year as a freshman as a reliever and as a starter," Gregory says. "He has put together another strong fall and spring."
"Turgeon has been very good on the mound throughout the fall and spring," Gregory says. "He is a two-way guy for us so there is a little bit of a learning curve on the best ways to use him."

Bullpen

The Wingate bullpen will once again be anchored by senior right-hander Tyler Brown (Suffolk, Va.). In 22 appearances in 2015, Brown was 8-4 with three saves, compiling a 3.23 ERA with 48 strikeouts and just 16 walks in 69 2/3 innings of work. He picked up two SAC Tournament wins.

Other returners who will be counted on again in 2016 include Brandon Dorsey (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), who went 2-1 with a 4.09 ERA in 15 appearances last year, working 22 innings. Junior right-hander Cameron Price (Indian Trail, N.C.) made 21 appearances out of the bullpen last season, registering 23 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings. Sophomore right-hander Hunter Morgan (Summerfield, N.C.) went 1-0 in seven appearances last year. Junior Dusty Ayscue (Louisburg, N.C.) saw action in eight games in 2015 for the Bulldogs.

Some new arms on the Wingate mound this year include, redshirt freshmen James Buie (Rockingham, N.C.) and Danny Dunning (Mint Hill, N.C.), freshmen Nash, Connor Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) and Lane Wildman (Virginia Beach, Va.) along with juniors Brandyn Norton (Weaverville, N.C.) and Alon Smith (Charlotte, N.C.). "These are all guys that we feel very good about coming out of the bullpen," Gregory says. "Each has been throwing the ball extremely well during the spring and will give us a lot of very good options in relief."

After Tuesday's season opener against Lander, the Bulldogs hit the road for the weekend, traveling to Valdosta, Ga. to face Valdosta State and Florida Tech. Wingate opens a five-game home stand on Feb. 10 against Belmont Abbey. The 'Dogs host a doubleheader against Shippensburg Feb. 13 and Slipper Rock Feb. 14. Wingate opens conference play on Feb. 26 at Mars Hill, while the SAC home opener is slated for March 18 against Carson-Newman.