Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore designated hitter Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) blasted a pair of homers Friday night, leading the Bulldogs to a 7-3 victory over visiting Lenoir-Rhyne University in South Atlantic Conference baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate improves to 25-17 overall and 9-10 in the SAC, while LRU falls to 29-14 overall and 9-10 in the conference.

Brown went three-for-three on the night, with a pair of homers and three RBI, reaching base four times to lead the Wingate attack. Senior outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) added a homer for the Bulldogs, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Freshmen Zach Little (Troutman, N.C.) and Andrew Llewellyn (Moseley, Va.) each added a hit and an RBI for Wingate, while junior outfielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) was two-for-three with a run scored.

Matthew De La Rosa was two-for-five with a homer to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne attack. Justin Dean added two hits and a run scored, while Garrett Vaughn also had a pair of hits for the Bears.

Wingate jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second, with a single, walk and sacrifice putting runners on second and third with one out. Little plated the first run with a sacrifice fly, while a Llewellyn RBI single put the 'Dogs on top by two.

Lenoir-Rhyne tied it in the second, getting runners on second and third via an error and walk. Both runs scored on another Bulldog error, making it 2-2.

Wingate responded with three runs in the third to regain the lead. After a leadoff single from Billings, Krebs lined his 12th homer of the season to left center, a two-run shot to make it 4-2. Brown would then blast his ninth homer of the year, a solo shot to right to put the 'Dogs on top by three.

The Bulldogs plated two more runs in the fifth. Krebs drew a one-out walk, then scored when Brown connected on a towering two-run shot to center, making it 7-2. The reigning SAC Freshman of the Year has 10 homers in 70 at-bats this season.

The Bears cut the lead to four in the seventh when De La Rosa connected on his ninth homer of the year, a solo shot to right to make the final margin 7-3.

Senior left-hander Jordan Newsome (Matthews, N.C.) got the win, moving to 6-4. He allowed two unearned runs on five hits in six innings of work, striking out eight. Newsome has gone at least six innings in each of his last three starts, allowing two earned runs or fewer in each game while piling up 22 strikeouts.

Austin Hancock took the loss, falling to 5-2. He allowed seven runs on eight hits in six innings, striking out three and walking two. Wingate sophomore right-hander Hunter Hamilton (Troy, N.C.) allowed a run on two hits in 1 1/3 relief innings with one strikeout. Junior right-hander Cameron Price (Indian Trail, N.C.) tossed two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run, striking out one, while senior right-hander Tyler Brown (Suffolk, Va.) struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bulldogs and Bears are back in action Saturday, meeting for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. at Ron Christopher Stadium.