Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior right-hander
Hunter Morgan (Summerfield, N.C.) tossed 7 1/3 strong innings Friday night, leading the Bulldogs to a 5-1 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne University in South Atlantic Conference baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate improves to 23-7 overall and 10-3 in the SAC, taking over sole possession of first place in the league standings. The Bears fall to 19-11 overall and 8-5 in conference play.
Junior infielder
Zach Little (Troutman, N.C.) was two-for-two with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Wingate offense. Junior infielder
Reece Daniel (Asheboro, N.C.) added two hits and an RBI, while senior infielder
Brett Branton (Athens, Ga.) also drove in a run for the Bulldogs. Junior outfielder
Tanner Forry (York, Pa.) contributed a hit and two runs scored.
Junior outfielder
Austin Turgeon (Athens, Ga.) drew a lead-off walk in the fifth, moved to second on a sacrifice, then scored on a Branton sacrifice fly.
Lenoir-Rhyne tied it in the top of the sixth when
Caleb Beatty lined an RBI double off the fence in right center.
Wingate had the answer in the sixth, scoring three times to take a 4-1 lead. Forry started the frame with a single, then scored on a wild pitch. Little and Daniel followed with RBI singles to put the 'Dogs on top by three.
The Bulldogs added one more run in the seventh, loading the bases via back-to-back walks and an error. Little was hit by a pitch to make it 5-1.
That was plenty for Morgan, who moves to 4-0 on the year. The senior allowed a run on eight hits while striking out two without walking a batter in 7 1/3 innings. Junior right-hander
Lane Wildman (Waxhaw, N.C.) struck out the only two batters he faced to finish the eighth, while sophomore right-hander
Alex Rodriguez (Kannapolis, N.C.) struck out the side in the ninth to finish it off. Bulldog pitchers had seven strikeouts and just one walk on the night, while LR pitchers walked five and hit three batters.
Hunter Martin took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking three.
The two teams are back in action Sunday, wrapping up the series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. The DH was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was moved back a day due to weather.
