Hickory, N.C.----The Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears scored four runs in the first inning en route to a 10-1 victory over visiting Wingate University in South Atlantic baseball action Friday night. The Bears improve to 20-16 overall and 6-10 in the SAC, while the Bulldogs fall to 15-22 overall and 6-10 in league play.

David Newcomer had a homer and four RBI to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne attack. Alex Reynolds hit a two homers, while Cole Fowler drove in a pair of runs. Zach Jacobs had two hits, an RBI and two runs.

Sophomore catcher Micah Goodwin (Rougemont, N.C.) homered to lead the Wingate offense. Sophomore outfielder Austin Turgeon (Athens, Ga.) and junior outfielder Trent Wynn (New Bern, N.C.) contributed a hit each.

The Bears jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, getting a Jacobs RBI double followed by a Newcomer two-run homer. Reynolds followed with a solo shot to put Lenoir-Rhyne on top by four. Fowler's two-run single in the third made it 6-0, while another Reynolds solo homer put the Bears on top by seven in the fourth.

Goodwin got the Bulldogs on the board in the fifth, connecting on his fifth homer of the year, a solo shot to left to make it 7-1.

Newcomer made it 9-1 in the eighth with a two-run double, while a Wingate error allowed the final run to score, making it 10-1.  

Thomas St. Clair got the win, moving to 9-2 on the year. He allowed a run in nine innings of work, striking out nine and walking two while giving up three hits. Senior right-hander Brandon Donahue (Charlotte, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 6-5 on the season. He allowed six runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking three.

The two teams are back in action Saturday, playing a doubleheader at 1 p.m.