Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore outfielder Andrew Motsinger led the Bulldogs two hits and two RBI, lifting the Bulldogs to a 7-2 NCAA Division II triumph over the Limestone College Saints at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field Wednesday afternoon. Wingate improves to 7-3 overall on the young season, while the Saints are 2-10 on the season.
 
KEY STATS

- Each team registered six hits
- WU baserunners collected all four stolen bases on the afternoon
- The Bulldogs and the Saints each notched one double
- Limestone stranded nine on base, Wingate left six men on
- WU pitching had eight strikeouts and four walks
- The LC pitching staff had nine strikeouts and five walks
- Limestone and Wingate had two errors apiece
- Both teams turned one double play
 
KEY BULLDOGS

- Motsinger had two hits, two RBI and Wingate's only double
- Seven WU players scored a run
- Grayson Chapman, Clayton Nestor and Justin Guy each had one hit, one RBI and one run scored
- Austin Johnson had three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of work
- Johnson collected his first career win in his first outing as Bulldog
 
FIRST INNING

- Limestone's Vance Deese reached on a walk and was plated by a Brian Forbes single
 
THIRD INNING
 
- The Saints added a second run in the top of the third
- Andrew McKay singled up the middle to start the bottom half of the inning
- A walk to Carson Simpson loaded the bases for the Bulldogs
- Motsinger singled to right center, plating two runs
- Simpson stole home on a double steal to give Wingate a 3-2 lead
 
FOURTH INNING

- Chapman and Nestor started the frame with back-to-back singles  
- McKay drew a walk to load the bases for Guy
- Guy's single to left plated Chapman
- Nestor scored on a double play to make it 5-2

SEVENTH INNING

- Three walks loaded the bases for Wingate
- Chapman reached on an error, plating McCann Mellett
- Another Saint error plated Ricky Clark to make it 7-2
 
WRAPUP

- Johnson's first career win moves his record to 1-0 overall
- He struck out three in 2 1/3 shutout innings, allowing two hits
- Wingate starter David Nash worked three innings
- Nash threw 46 pitches with 32 for strikes
- He allowed two unearned runs on two hits with two strikeouts
- Bulldog reliever Sawyer Lee worked the eighth inning
- He had one walk with two strikeouts
- Limestone starter Trey Jenkins (0-1 overall) took the loss
- In four innings, Jenkins allowed four earned runs on five hits
- He struck out four and walked two
 
UP NEXT
 
- The Bulldogs open South Atlantic Conference play Friday, visiting Newberry
- The two teams will play a single game Friday (6 p.m.) and a doubleheader Saturday (1 p.m.)
- Wingate returns home Tuesday, Feb. 25 to take on Francis Marion at 4 p.m.