Kodak, Tenn.----Three different Bulldogs homered Thursday night as sixth-seeded Wingate University defeated seventh-seeded Coker College 10-5 in the opening round of the 2016 South Atlantic Conference baseball tournament. Wingate improves to 29-20 overall, advancing to the double-elimination portion of the tournament. Coker is eliminated, ending its season at 28-20.

Sophomore designated hitter Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) was two-for-three with a homer, three RBI and three runs scored to lead the Wingate attack. Junior outfielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) added three hits including a homer, driving in two runs and scoring three times while senior Tyler Simmons (Charlotte, N.C.) also homered, driving in a pair of runs. Junior infielder Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) and freshman outfielder Austin Turgeon (Athens, Ga.) each contributed a pair of hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs.

Miguel Frias had a homer and three RBI to lead the Coker offense. Will Winslow also homered, driving in two runs for the Cobras, while Thomas Lopez added a double and a run scored.

Wingate jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Billings led off the frame with a single, while senior Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) followed with a single. Brown followed by connecting on his 12th homer of the year, a three-run shot to left center to give the 'Dogs an early lead.

Coker countered with three runs in the top of the second when Frias blasted a three-run shot to right center, making it 3-3.

The Bulldogs regained the lead in the bottom of the third. Krebs started the frame with a single, then scored on Barnette's RBI single. Turgeon's RBI single made it 5-3.

Wingate took a 7-3 advantage in the bottom of the fifth when Simmons connected on his fifth homer of the year, a two-run shot down the right field line.

The Bulldogs took a six-run lead in the bottom of the sixth when Billings blasted his fourth long ball of the season, a two-run shot to left center to make it 9-3.

The Cobras made the final margin 9-5 when Winslow connected on a two-run homer in the seventh.

Senior left-hander Jordan Newsome (Matthews, N.C.) got the win, moving to 7-5. He allowed three runs on five hits in six innings, striking out three and walking three. Dallas Baldwin took the loss, falling to 6-4. He allowed a season-high eight runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out three.

It will be a quick turnaround for the defending SAC champion Bulldogs, who will face top-seeded Catawba Friday at 12 p.m. Wingate and Catawba met twice on the final day of the 2015 SAC Tournament, with the 'Dogs winning both games to claim the title. Wingate and Catawba met last weekend at Ron Christopher Stadium, with the Indians taking two out of three against the Bulldogs.