Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt sophomore outfielder Ricky Clark went three-for-five with six total bases and five RBI, leading the top-ranked Bulldogs to an 18-8 victory over UNC Pembroke in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium. Wingate improves to 24-3 overall this season, while the Braves drop to 19-7.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Wingate out-hit UNC Pembroke 15-13
- The Braves had five of nine extra-base hits in the ball-game and three of four home runs
- The Bulldogs left nine runners on base; UNCP stranded 11
- Each team committed three errors on the night
- WU recorded all five stolen bases in the contest
- The Braves' staff struck out 13, walked 11 and hit one; the 'Dogs' hurlers struck out 12, walked five and hit four
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Clark went three-for-five with a triple and a double, driving in a career-high five runs and scoring two more runs
- Logan McNeely added a pair of hits, two RBI and four runs scored
- Justin Guy was one-for-two with a double, two RBI, three walks and a stolen base
- Isaiah Williams-Rhem hit his first-career home run Tuesday night
- Andrew McKay drove in a run on two hits and drew two walks
- Gehrig Christopher and Michael Dansky also added multi-hit games
- Mitch Farris struck out three in two shutout innings to earn the win
- Corey Avant and Sam Broderson each added a scoreless inning of relief, striking out four
 
FIRST INNING
 
- Wingate loaded the bases in the first before recording an out
- Clark drove in Andrew Motsinger from third on a sacrifice fly to open the scoring
- Christopher lined an RBI single to center, scoring Dansky
- Three Bulldogs scored on a throwing error by UNCP, taking a 5-0 lead after an inning
 
SECOND INNING
 
- Blake Hinson singled through the left side to put the Braves on the board in the second
 
THIRD INNING
 
- Wellington Guzman's two-out homer to left cut the Braves' deficit in half to make it a 5-3 game
- Wingate loaded the bases before recording an out once again in the third frame
- Guy walked to bring home a run
- Motsinger's sac fly returned the 'Dogs' lead to four runs at 7-3
 
FOURTH INNING
 
- Hinson hit a leadoff homer to right field
- Ethan Ott followed suit two batters later
- McKay's two-out single drove in McNeely from second to give the Bulldogs an 8-5 edge in the bottom of the frame
 
FIFTH INNING
 
- Bobby Dixon drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to further cut into WU's lead
- Ott singled up the middle to score two more, tying the game at eight
- For the third time in five innings, the 'Dogs loaded the bases before recording an out
- McNeely's two-run single gave Wingate a lead it would not give up
 
SIXTH INNING
 
- Williams-Rhem blasted his first-career home run to right field, extending the Wingate lead to 11-8
 
SEVENTH INNING
 
- Clark tripled down the right field line, scoring McNeely and Dom Byers
- The right fielder later scored on a wild pitch
- With two outs, McKay stole home on a double steal
- Guy doubled to center to double up the Braves, 16-8
 
EIGHTH INNING
 
- Clark's two-out double down the left field line once again scored McNeely and Byers to put Wingate up 18-8
 
WRAPUP
 
- Farris got the win, improving to 3-1 overall
- He struck out three in two shutout innings, while only allowing two hits
- Landen Smith took the loss for Pembroke, dropping to 3-1 on the year
- He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out in the fifth
 
UP NEXT
 
- The 'Dogs return to the road this weekend as they continue their SAC schedule with a three-game series at Limestone
- The 'Dogs return to Ron Christopher Stadium on Friday, April 1, opening a three-game set with UVA Wise at 6 p.m.