Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior right-hander
Hunter Morgan (Summerfield, N.C.) tossed a complete game Sunday afternoon, holding visiting Columbus State University to just one run in a 3-1 victory in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate wins the weekend series against the Cougars, improving to 4-7 on the year. Columbus State falls to 4-6 overall.
Junior first baseman
Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) had a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Junior outfielder
Ty Andrus (Winston-Salem, N.C.) added a hit and a run scored, while freshman outfielder
Joseph Mason (Morehead City, N.C.) also scored a run for the Bulldogs.
The pitcher's duel did not see either team score until the fifth, when
Tyler Fichter scored on a
Turner Vincent two-out RBI single to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
Wingate answered in the sixth, scoring three times to take the lead. Mason was hit by a pitch with two outs. He would score from first base when Andrus reached on a throwing error, making it 1-1. Brown followed with the big blow of the game, blasting a no-doubt two-run shot to right to give Wingate a 3-1 lead. The All-Region honoree has three homers on the year.
That would be plenty for Morgan. The junior allowed a single in each of the first three innings, but the Cougars could not scratch one across, with Morgan inducing an inning-ending double play in the second. CSU loaded the bases in the fourth, but Morgan got a big strikeout to get out of it. After allowing a run in the fifth, Morgan allowed just one hit the rest of the game.
Morgan moves to 1-2 on the year. He tossed his first career complete game, throwing 117 pitches in nine innings, allowing eight singles while striking out six. CSU had scored 21 runs in the first two games of the series.
Luke Porter took the loss, falling to 0-1. He allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings, striking out seven and walking two.
Wingate is back in action Tuesday, traveling to Belmont Abbey for a 4 p.m. start. The Bulldogs return home next weekend, hosting a three-game series against Shippensburg, starting with Saturday's doubleheader at 1 p.m.
