Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs completed a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon, picking up a 9-8 victory over visiting Concord University in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate improves to 8-5 overall, while the Mountain Lions fall to 0-6 on the season.
Senior outfielder
Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) was two-for-four with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Wingate offense. Junior
Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) had two doubles and two RBI, while sophomore
Brett Branton (Athens, Ga.) also drove in a pair of runs. Junior
Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) and freshman
Reece Daniel (Asheboro, N.C.) each added three hits and two runs scored for the Bulldogs.
Jordan Clark was three-for-five with three RBI to lead the Concord attack.
Trevor Wiersma added two hits, an RBI and a run scored, while
Brad Sullivan had three hits and scored twice.
Andy Szamski contributed an RBI and two runs scored for the Mountain Lions.
Wingate jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Krebs plated the first two runs when he connected on his second homer of the year, a two-run shot to right to make it 2-0. Branton added a two-run double to right center to push the lead to four.
Concord answered with five runs in the third to take the lead. The Mountain Lions took advantage of three Wingate errors in the frame. Wiersma, Clark and
Brett Simmons each had an RBI single in the inning, putting Concord on top 5-4.
The Mountain Lions added three more runs in the fourth. Clark plated the first two runs with a two-run single, while a Wingate error allowed a third run to score, making it 8-4.
The Bulldogs answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Daniel started the two-out rally with a single, then went to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from Billings.
Wingate scored two runs in the fifth to get within a run. Krebs started the inning with a single, then scored on a Barnette RBI double. An RBI single from freshman
Andrew Llewellyn (Moseley, Va.) plated Barnette, making it 8-7.
The Bulldogs scored two more runs in the sixth to regain the lead. Daniel doubled to start the frame, then moved to third on a Billings single. Krebs tied the game with a sacrifice fly, while Barnette's RBI double plated Billings to give Wingate a 9-8 lead.
The Wingate bullpen shut down the Mountain Lion offense in the final four innings. Junior right-hander
Cameron Price (Indian Land, S.C.) got the win by tossing two shutout innings, striking out three to move to 1-0. Senior right-hander
Tyler Brown (Suffolk, Va.) piled up five strikeouts in the final two innings without allowing a run to earn his first save of the season.
Nate Werner took the loss, falling to 0-2. He allowed two runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.
The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday, traveling to UNC Pembroke for a 3 p.m. start.
