Wingate, N.C.----The Tusculum College Pioneers opened the final SAC series of the year with an 8-1 victory at Wingate University Friday evening in South Atlantic Conference baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Pioneers improve to 27-15 overall and 14-8 in the SAC, while the Bulldogs fall to 17-29 overall and 8-14 in the conference.

Nick Lacina had two homers and three RBI to lead the Tusculum attack. Dualton Martin went three-for-four with a homer and three RBI, while Dante Key also drove in a run for the Pioneers.

Sophomore outfielder Austin Turgeon (Athens, Ga.) homered to lead the Wingate offense. Senior infielder Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) added a double for the Bulldogs.

Key's RBI single in the second got the Pioneers on the board. Martin's RBI double and a Wingate error in the third put Tusculum on top 3-0.

Lacina put the Pioneers on top by five with a two-run homer in the fifth. His solo shot in the seventh made it 6-0, while Martin connected on a two-run shot later in the frame to give Tusculum an eight-run advantage.

Wingate got on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Turgeon connected on his third homer of the year, a towering solo shot to left to make it 8-1.

Ethan Carpenter got the win, moving to 6-3. He allowed a run on just three hits while notching the complete game, striking out 11 and walking one, throwing 125 pitches on the night. Senior right-hander Brandon Donahue (Charlotte, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 6-7. He allowed six runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking three. Freshman right-hander Sawyer Lee (Norwood, N.C.) worked 2 2/3 perfect innings in relief, striking out two.

The Bulldogs and Pioneers wrap up the three-game series Saturday, with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Wingate will hold its Senior Day ceremony at 12:30 p.m.