Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior right-hander Hunter Dula tossed six shutout innings in game one, while sophomore outfielder Ricky Clark had a homer and four RBI to lead the Bulldogs to an 8-0 season-opening victory in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Mountain Lions responded by taking game two 5-1 to split the doubleheader. Both teams start the 2020 season 1-1 overall.

GAME ONE | Wingate 8 Concord 0

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Concord 8-1 in game one
- The Bulldogs had all five extra-base hits
- WU left four on base; Concord stranded three
- The 'Dogs committed the lone error of the contest
- Wingate pitching struck out eight and walked two
- Concord pitchers struck out 14 while walking a pair

KEY BULLDOGS

- Dula allowed a single in six innings, striking out five
- Clark went two-for-four with a double, homer, four RBI and two runs scored
- Carson Simpson added a triple, two RBI and two runs scored
- Dula also drove in a run at the plate
- McCann Mellett added a hit, RBI and two runs scored
- Mitch Farris and Justin Guy each added a hit and run scored
- Alex Rodriguez tossed three no-hit innings, striking out three

FIFTH INNING

- After four scoreless innings, Wingate put up a five-spot in the fifth
- Singles from Farris and Guy put runners on first and third with one out
- Simpson's two-run triple got the 'Dogs on the board
- Clark followed with a two-run double to make it 4-0
- Dula's RBI triple gave Wingate a five-run lead

SEVENTH INNING

- The Bulldogs added three more runs in the seventh
- Simpson was hit by a pitch, then scored on Mellett's RBI single
- Clark followed with a two-run blast to right to make it 8-0

WRAPUP

- That was plenty for Dula, who moves to 1-0 on the year
- An All-SAC and All-Region reliever last year, Dula tossed six shutout innings
- He saw just three base runners all day, a single, walk and error
- Dula struck out five and walked just one
- Rodriguez struck out three in his three no-hit innings of relief
- Trent Abernathy took the loss, falling to 0-1
- He allowed five runs on five hits in five innings, striking out eight and walking two

GAME TWO | Concord 5 Wingate 1

KEY STATS

- The Mountain Lions out-hit the Bulldogs 6-5
- Concord had two of the three extra-base hits including the lone homer
- The Mountain Lions left eight on base; the 'Dogs stranded six
- WU pitching had 10 strikeouts and three walks; CU had four strikeouts and two walks
- Neither team committed an error in game two

KEY BULLDOGS

- Mellett was two-for-four with a run scored
- Clark registered a double in game two
- Dula drove in the lone run for the Bulldogs
- Tommy McCollum struck out five in 2 2/3 shutout innings of relief
- Riley Isenhour had three strikeouts in two no-hit relief innings

SECOND INNING

- Concord scored four times in the top of the second
- A single and two walks loaded the bases, with an Anthony Stehlin two-run double getting CU on the board
- Evan Antonellis drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the scoring in the frame and making it 4-0

THIRD INNING

- Richard Ortiz led off the frame with a solo shot to left on the first pitch to give Concord a five-run lead
- Mellett's bunt single started the bottom of the frame
- He moved to second on a groundout, then stole third
- A Dula sacrifice fly plated Mellett to get Wingate on the board

WRAPUP

- Bryson Booher got the win, moving to 1-0
- He allowed a run on four hits in five innings, striking out three and walking two
- Brody McCollough took the loss, falling to 0-1
- He allowed four runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking three

UP NEXT

- The Bulldogs and Mountain Lions wrap up the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.