Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt sophomore Jordan Howard allowed zero runs over the final five outs after a lengthy delay Sunday afternoon, earning the save in the second-ranked Bulldogs' 7-6 win over the University of Charleston at Ron Christopher Stadium in NCAA Division II baseball action. The Bulldogs improve to 7-0 on the season, while the Golden Eagles fall to 2-4.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Charleston out-hit Wingate 13-9
- Each team had four extra-base hits; the Bulldogs hit two of the three home runs
- The Golden Eagles left 11 runners on base; WU stranded six runners
- UC had two of the three stolen bases in the game
- The 'Dogs committed the only error of the afternoon
- Wingate pitching struck out 10 and walked four, while Charleston's staff struck out five, walked three and hit two
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Andrew Motsinger drove in a game-high three runs on a double in the in the sixth inning and stole a base
- Michael Dansky had two hits including a two-run homer, his third of the season
- Mitch Farris went three-for-four with a solo home run and a double
- Andrew McKay and Isaiah Williams-Rhem each recorded a hit and a run scored
- Justin Guy drove in a run via a sacrifice fly
- Josh Dotson allowed two runs and struck out four in 4 1/3 innings
- Mac Callari did not allow a run and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings
- Howard recorded the final five outs after the delay
 
NOTES
 
- Wingate improves to 11-1 over Charleston
- All 12 games have taken place in Wingate
- The Bulldogs last won their first seven games in 2018
- Wingate is the highest-ranked team without a loss on the season
 
FIRST INNING
 
- After Motsinger was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, Dansky hit his third homer of the season over the right field fence, giving the 'Dogs an early 2-0 lead
 
FOURTH INNING
 
- Farris's first home run of the season was a solo shot that extended the lead to 3-0
 
FIFTH INNING
 
- Charleston's Giano Zuccaro got the Golden Eagles on the board with a solo homer
- Braxton Bodorff's bunt down the first base side rested right on the line, scoring Bryce Toussaint
 
SIXTH INNING
 
- With the bases loaded, Guy lined out to center field, scoring Farris from third
- Motsinger doubled over the center fielder's head, scoring McKay, Williams-Rhem and Kell Smith, giving Wingate a 7-2 lead
 
SEVENTH INNING
 
- Charleston's Tyler Dellerman hit a sacrifice fly to right field with the bases loaded, scoring Toussaint
- Casey Finck hit a two-run single up the middle to cut the Wingate lead to two runs
- Pete Costigan scored Finck from third to make it a 7-6 ballgame
 
WRAPUP
 
- Callari earns the win, his second of the week after taking the W in Wednesday's mid-week victory over #13 Mount Olive
- Dotson threw 76 pitches, giving up the two runs in his 4 1/3 innings
- Zane Lattig is tagged with the loss for Charleston
- Latting allowed three runs on five hits and struck out two in four innings pitched
- Howard earns the five-out save, his first of the season
 
UP NEXT
 
- The second-ranked Bulldogs hit the road for the first time in 2022 with a mid-week game at Belmont Abbey on Feb. 15
- Wingate returns to Ron Christopher Stadium for a three-game set against Kutztown
- First pitch for game one on Friday, Feb. 18 is scheduled for 4 p.m.