Kodak, Tenn.----The Tusculum College Pioneers got a three-run homer from Creighton Wilke in the top of the 11th inning Sunday night, defeating Wingate University 9-6 on day four of the 2016 South Atlantic Conference baseball tournament. Tusculum improves to 34-16 overall, advancing to play another game Sunday night. Wingate is eliminated from the tournament, ending its season at 30-22 overall.

Wilke was one-for-five on the day for Tusculum, leading the team with his three RBI. Jim Tolle added a homer and two RBI, while John Topoleski contributed two hits and two RBI for the Pioneers.  Jordan Huntley added a hit, RBI and run scored.

Sophomore designated hitter Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) was two-for-five with a homer and three RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Freshman outfielder Austin Turgeon (Athens, Ga.) also homered, while junior infielder Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) added an RBI. Senior outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) and junior outfielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) each contributed three hits and two runs scored for the Bulldogs. The All-American Billings has a nation's-best 96 hits this year, giving him 200 hits over the past two seasons. He finishes the year with a SAC-best .444 batting average.

Tusculum took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Huntley drew a bases-loaded walk. Billings and Krebs started the bottom of the frame with singles, while Barnette's RBI single plated Billings to make it 1-1. Krebs would then score on a TC error to give the 'Dogs the lead.

The Pioneers regained the lead with three runs in the third. The first run scored on a Wingate error, while Topoleski's two-run single made it 4-2. Tusculum took a 6-2 lead in the fifth when Tolle connected on a two-run homer to right.

Wingate had the answer in the bottom of the inning. Billings started a two-out rally with a single, while Krebs drew a walk to bring Brown to the plate. The sophomore blasted a three-run homer to right to make it a one-run game. The two-time All-SAC selection had 14 homers and 40 RBI in 27 starts in 2016.

The Bulldogs tied the game in the sixth when Turgeon connected on the sixth homer of his freshman season, a solo shot to left center to make it 6-6.

That was all of the scoring until the 11th. Wingate's Cameron Price (Indian Trail, N.C.) tossed 3 1/3 shutout innings in relief, allowing just one hit. Devan Watts went the last 5 1/3 for the Pioneers without allowing a run.

Wingate senior right-hander Tyler Brown (Suffolk, Va.) started the 11th inning with his fifth strikeout, but a single and walk put runners on the corners with one out. Wilke then connected on a three-run homer down the right field line to give the Pioneers a 9-6 lead. Wingate collected a pair of hits in the bottom of the frame, but Watts induced a game-ending flyout to finish the game.

Watts moves to 1-4 on the year, striking out four without walking a batter, throwing 66 pitches in his 5 1/3 innings while allowing four hits. Brown falls to 5-3 on the year. He allowed three runs on three hits in three innings, striking out five and walking three.