Salisbury, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs opened conference playing by taking two out of three against defending champion and fifth-ranked Catawba after splitting Monday's doubleheader in South Atlantic Conference baseball action. The 'Dogs took game one 8-6 while the Indians avoided the sweep with a 7-2 victory in game two. Wingate moves to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in the SAC, while Catawba goes to 13-3 overall and 1-2 in league play.
GAME ONE | Wingate 8 #5 Catawba 6
KEY STATS
- Wingate out-hit Catawba 12-11
- The 'Dogs had six of the 10 extra-base hits including three of the four homers
- The Bulldogs left nine on base while the Indians stranded seven
- WU had the lone stolen base; each team was caught stealing once
- Each team committed one error
- Wingate pitchers had eight strikeouts and six walks; Catawba had 12 strikeouts and five walks
- The Bulldogs turned all three double plays in the game
KEY BULLDOGS
-
Jed Bryant was two-for-four with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored
-
Andrew Llewellyn added two hits including a homer, scoring twice
-
Ricky Clark also homered for the Bulldogs
-
Zach Little collected two hits, an RBI, run scored and stolen base
-
Reece Daniel contributed a triple, RBI and a run scored
-
Justin Guy had two hits and an RBI
-
Alex Rodriguez allowed three runs on three hits in 4 1/3 innings
-
Brody McCullough got the win with two innings of relief
-
Hunter Dula notched the save
-
Lane Wildman struck out two in an inning of work
THIRD INNING
- Clark gave Wingate the lead when he led off the frame with his first collegiate homer
FOURTH INNING
- A two-run double from
Jackson Raper gave Catawba a 2-1 lead
FIFTH INNING
-
McCann Mellett led off the inning with a double, then moved to third on Llewellyn's single
- Bryant gave the 'Dogs a 4-2 lead with a three-run shot to left center, his fifth homer of the year
- Catawba answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead
-
Jeremy Simpson's two-run homer put the Indians on top 5-4
EIGHTH INNING
- Bryant started things with a one-out single
- He would score on an RBI triple from Daniel, making it 5-5
- Little followed with an RBI single, plating Daniel to put the 'Dogs on top
- Guy added an RBI double to give Wingate a 7-5 advantage
- A double and two walks loaded the bases for Catawba with one out in the bottom of the frame
- Wildman entered the game and struck out a pair of Indians to get out of the jam
NINTH INNING
- An RBI single from
Heath Mitchem got Catawba within two
- With the tying run on base, Dula induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play
WRAP UP
- McCullough notched his first collegiate win, moving to 1-0 on the year
- He tossed two shutout innings, striking out three while allowing two hits
- Dula notched his first save as a Bulldog, working two-thirds of an inning in the ninth
-
Sawyer Strickland took the loss, falling to 3-1
- He allowed three runs on five hits in three innings of work, striking out four
GAME TWO: #5 Catawba 7 Wingate 2
KEY STATS
- Catawba out-hit Wingate 10-4 in game two
- Each team had three extra-base hits; WU had the only two homers
- The Indians left seven on base; the 'Dogs stranded three
- Catawba had eight strikeouts and one walk; Wingate had seven strikeouts and four walks
KEY BULLDOGS
- Bryant was two-for-three with a homer
- Mellett also homered for the Bulldogs
-
Logan McNeely added a double
FIRST INNING
-
Harrison Lentz started the frame with a single, then scored on Mitchem's RBI groundout
SECOND INNING
-
Jacob Nestor's RBI triple made it 2-0
- An RBI single from
Henderson Lentz put the Indians on top by three
THIRD INNING
- Mitchem led off the inning with a double, then scored on a sacrifice from from Joe Butts to make it 4-0
FOURTH INNING
- Simpson's RBI single made it a five-run game
- Mitchem followed with an RBI double to give Catawba a 6-0 advantage
FIFTH INNING
- Bryant led off the frame with his SAC-best sixth homer of the year to get WU on the board
SIXTH INNING
- Mellett connected on his first homer of the year, a solo shot to get the 'Dogs within four
- Mitchem drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the frame to make it 7-2
WRAP UP
-
Bryan Ketchie got the win, moving to 4-0
- He allowed two runs on four hits in six innings, striking out seven
-
Riley Isenhour took the loss, falling to 1-2
- He allowed four runs on seven hits in two innings, striking out one
-
Tommy McCollum struck out two in 1 1/3 innings of work
UP NEXT
- Wingate travels to UNC Pembroke Wednesday at 3 p.m.
- The 'Dogs open a three-game SAC series at home Friday night at 6 p.m. against Tusculum
- Wingate and Tusculum meet for a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.
