Hickory, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs picked up a pair of wins Saturday afternoon, sweeping the Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears in South Atlantic Conference baseball action. Wingate used a nine-run fourth inning in a 15-1 game one victory, while prevailing 7-5 in game two to improve to 17-22 overall and 8-10 in the SAC. The Bears fall to 20-18 overall and 6-12 in league play.

Game One: Wingate 15, Lenoir-Rhyne 1

Junior outfielder Trent Wynn (New Bern, N.C.) was four-for-five with two doubles and three RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Senior infielder Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) added three hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore infielder Reece Daniel (Asheboro, N.C.) went three-for-four with three RBI and two runs scored. Junior designated hitter Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) added two RBI and three runs scored, while sophomore Micah Goodwin (Rougemont, N.C.) had two hits, two RBI and a run scored. Junior outfielder Ty Andrus (Winston-Salem, N.C.) had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored, while freshman McCann Mellett (Charlotte, N.C.) added three hits, an RBI and a run scored.  

After three scoreless innings, Wingate exploded for nine runs in the fourth. Three consecutive walks loaded the bases, while Wynn's two-run double started the scoring. Daniel followed with a two-run singles, while an Andrus RBI single made it 5-0. Barnette added a two-run single, while Brown's RBI groundout put the 'Dogs on top by eight. Wynn capped the scoring in the frame with another RBI double, making it 9-0.

Lenoir-Rhyne's lone run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth when Alex Reynolds scored on an RBI single from Fred Wadsworth.

The Bulldogs added six more runs in the top of the ninth inning. Mellett started the inning with a triple, then scored on Daniels' RBI single. Barnette and Brown drew bases-loaded walks to make it 12-1, while Goodwin's two-run single pushed the lead to 13. Mellett's RBI single capped the scoring in game one, making the final margin 15-1.

Junior right-hander Hunter Morgan (Summerfield, N.C.) got the win, moving to 5-3 on the year. He allowed a run on four hits in eight innings of work, striking out eight and walking one. Landon Whitson took the loss, falling to 2-3. He allowed four runs on three hits in three innings, striking out three and walking three. Nine LRU pitchers combined for 11 walks in game one.

Game Two: Wingate 7, Lenoir-Rhyne 5

Barnette had a homer and three RBI to lead the Wingate attack in game two. Sophomore infielder Zach Little (Troutman, N.C.) added two hits and two runs scored, while Andrus and Daniel each had two hits and a run scored. Wynn also contributed a hit and a run scored for the Bulldogs.

Marcus Shoemaker and Matthew Freeman each drove in a run for the Bears to lead the LRU attack in game two.

Wingate jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Little started the rally with a one-out bunt single, while Barnette followed by connecting on his second homer of the year, a two-run shot to left. Three consecutive walks loaded the bases, while a Lenoir-Rhyne error allowed two more runs to score to make it 4-0.

David Newcomer reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the first, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1. Shoemaker's sacrifice fly got the Bears within two in the third inning.

Wingate scored three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 7-2 lead. Daniel started the frame with a single, while an error and Little bunt single loaded the bases. Daniel scored on passed ball, while Barnette's sacrifice fly made it 6-2. Little then scored on a wild pitch to put the 'Dogs on top by five.

Freeman's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth made it 7-3, while a Wingate error allowed another run to score on the play, getting LR within three. Reynolds led off the fifth with a single, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-5. The Bears got runners on first and second in the seventh, but senior right-hander Cameron Price (Indian Trail, N.C.) struck out the final hitter of the game to clinch the sweep.

Freshman right-hander Cameron Smetak (Monroe, N.C.) got the win, moving to 1-0. He allowed a run on two hits in 1 2/3 innings, striking out one. Price got the save, working two shutout innings with two strikeouts, allowing just one hit to notch his second save of the year. John Grigg took the loss, falling to 2-3. He allowed four runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning, striking out one and walking three.

Wingate is back in action Tuesday, hosting UNC Pembroke at 6 p.m. The 'Dogs host Limestone Wednesday at 6 p.m.