Wingate, N.C.-—-The second-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs won their fifth straight game to begin the 2022 season, knocking off the University of Charleston 17-6 at Ron Christopher Stadium in NCAA Division II baseball action. The Bulldogs improve to 5-0, while the Golden Eagles drop to 2-2.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Wingate out-hit Charleston 15-11
- The Bulldogs piled up seven extra-base hits, including three homers; the Golden Eagles had two extra-base hits
- WU left 14 on the base paths, while UC stranded 13 runners
- Each team stole a base on the afternoon
- The 'Dogs committed three errors; Charleston had five mishaps in the field
- Wingate pitching struck out 18, walked six and hit one, while the Golden Eagles' staff struck out eight, walked 12 and hit one
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Gehrig Christoper was three-for-six with six RBI including an eighth-inning grand slam
- Michael Dansky added a career-best five hits in six ABs and scored four times
- Logan McNeely went for three RBI including a two-run homer in the sixth
- Brett Adams was two-for-three with three walks and a solo shot in the second
- Isaiah Williams-Rhem added two hits and two runs driven in
- Jed Bryant knocked in a pair of runs
- Brody McCullough struck out a career-high 13 batters in 5 1/3 innings
- Sean Barnett tallied a pair of strikeouts in the ninth in a scoreless frame
 
NOTES
 
- Wingate moves to 9-1 all-time versus Charleston
- All 10 meetings have taken place at Ron Christopher Stadium
- The Bulldogs improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2018
- The 'Dogs have scored over 10 runs in three of five games, going over 15 twice


FIRST INNING
 
- Dansky hit a one-out double, advanced to third and scored on a sacrifice fly from Bryant to get the 'Dogs on the board early
 
SECOND INNING
 
- Adams smashed a solo homer to right center; his first of the season
 
FOURTH INNING
 
- Adams and Seaver King scored on an error by UC's third baseman that rolled into the outfield
 
FIFTH INNING
 
- Williams-Rhem rolled a grounder with the bases loaded but beat out the throw to first on the double play try, scoring Christopher
 
SIXTH INNING
 
- Pete Costigan's bloop single to right-center scored Braxton Bodorff from second.
- J.D. Armstrong drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Casey Finck
- After a leadoff single from Dansky, McNeely shot a laser down the left field line that stayed fair for McNeely's first homerun of the season.
 
SEVENTH INNING
 
- Finck singled up the middle on a two-RBI single, scoring Will Glazebrook and Bodorff
- Armstrong reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Finck, cutting the Wingate lead to 7-5
- After a leadoff double from King, Williams-Rhem drove him in with an RBI single
- Clark drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning, scoring Williams-Rhem
- Christopher drove in Dansky and Bryant with a two-run single to extend the lead to 11-5
 
EIGHTH INNING
 
- With the bases loaded, Finck grounded out to the pitcher, but scored Brayden McCallister
- Bryant drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Williams-Rhem
- Christopher blasted a grand slam to right field for his first home run of the season, scoring Dansky, McNeely and the pinch runner Andrew Motsinger
- King reached on an error, then Adams scored as the throw from left field got away
 
WRAPUP
 
- McCollough earned his second win of the season in as many starts
- The All-American gave up two runs on six hits, walked two and struck out a career-high 13 batters in 16 outs
- Jackson Mandela took the loss, giving four runs, one of which was earned, on three hits, five walks, striking out five
 
UP NEXT
 
- The 'Dogs continue their three-game series with Charleston on Saturday
- First pitch at Ron Christopher Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.