Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior outfielder Jed Bryant connected on the go-ahead three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday afternoon, leading the Bulldogs to an 8-6 victory over Valdosta State University in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Wingate moves to 2-2 overall, while the Blazers fall to 1-2 on the season.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Valdosta State 13-7
- The Bulldogs had four doubles and a homer; VSU had three homers on the day
- Wingate left nine on base, the Blazers stranded five
- Each team committed an error
- The 'Dogs stole three of the four bases on the day
- WU Pitching had 10 strikeouts and six walks; Valdosta had 11 strikeouts and two walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Bryant was two-for-five with a homer and three RBI
- Ricky Clark added two hits and two RBI
- McCann Mellett went two-for-four with a double, RBI and two runs scored
- Clayton Nestor had a pair of doubles with an RBI and a run scored
- Carson Simpson also had a double and an RBI
- Andrew McKay added a hit, stolen base and two runs scored

SECOND INNING

- Valdosta State jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch
- Wingate scored four times in the bottom of the frame
- Simpson followed a Nestor double with an RBI double to tie it
- Mellett's RBI double put the Bulldogs on top
- Clark made it 4-1 with a two-run single

FOURTH INNING

- David Maberry's two-run homer got Valdosta State within a run
- Mike Christopoulos followed with a solo shot to tie it

FIFTH INNING

- Nick Lewis's two-run shot gave the Blazers a 6-4 advantage
- Logan McNeely led off the bottom of the frame with a single
- Nestor's RBI double got Wingate within a run

EIGHTH INNING

- McKay started the inning with a single, while Mellett drew a walk
- Bryant followed by lining a three-run shot off the foul pole in left to put WU on top 8-6
- A preseason All-American, Bryant led the SAC with 19 homers last season

WRAPUP

- Tommy McCollum got the win, moving to 1-0 on the year
- He retired all five batters he faced to end the game, striking out three
- Hunter Dula went 4 2/3 to start the game, striking out three
- David Nash tossed two shutout innings, striking out two
- Alex Tyson took the loss, falling to 0-1
- He allowed three runs on four hits in three innings, striking out two and walking one

UP NEXT

- Wingate hosts Florida Tech Saturday at 12 p.m.
- The Bulldogs host Palm Beach Atlantic Sunday at 12 p.m.