Greeneville, Tenn.----The second-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs had three different pitchers combine to allow just five singles in nine shutout innings of work Saturday afternoon, picking up a 2-0 victory at Tusculum University to finish off the weekend sweep in South Atlantic Conference baseball action. The defending national champions improve to 38-5 overall and 18-2 in the SAC, while the Pioneers fall to 16-26 overall and 5-16 in league play. The 'Dogs have now swept five of their six three-game SAC series this season while sweeping nine of the 10 total three-game series this year.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Tusculum 8-5
- The Bulldogs had the lone extra-base hit of the day
- Wingate left seven on base; the Pioneers stranded six
- The 'Dogs committed two of the three errors
- WU pitching struck out seven without a walk; TU had eight strikeouts and a walk

KEY BULLDOGS

- Isaiah Williams-Rhem provided the offense with a two-run double
- Brett Adams collected two hits and a walk, scoring a run
- Seaver King added a hit and a run scored
- Grayson Chapman went two-for-four on the afternoon
- Mitch Farris went 5 1/3 innings in his start, striking out five
- Jordan Howard went 2 2/3 innings to earn the win, striking out two
- Corey Avant worked a perfect ninth to notch the save

SEVENTH INNING

- After six scoreless frames, the 'Dogs finally got on the board in the top of the seventh
- Adams drew a leadoff walk, then moved to third on Seaver's single up the middle
- Williams-Rhem followed by lining the first pitch of his at-bat in the right center field gap, plating two runs with his double

WRAPUP

- That would be enough for the Wingate trio on the mound, as the 'Dogs allowed just five singles all day
- Howard got the win, moving to 4-0 on the year
- He tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two without a walk
- Avant notched his second save of the season with his flawless ninth inning of relief
- Tyler Harmon took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings, striking out six and walking one
- Farris allowed two hits in the second, but worked out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts
- Three of the four hits Farris allowed in his start were infield singles, including a bunt single
- After inducing a groundout to start the sixth, Farris was lifted for Howard, who retired the next two of the frame
- Howard worked around a two-out single in the seventh; the last hit of the day for TU
- He ended his day with a 1-2-3 eighth inning, punctuated by a strikeout
- Avant needed just seven pitches to work a 1-2-3 ninth inning

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Tuesday, traveling to UNC Pembroke for a 6 p.m. start
- The 'Dogs return home next weekend, hosting a three-game SAC series against Mars Hill
- Game one of the series is Friday at 6 p.m.
- The Bulldogs will celebrate Senior Day before Saturday's 1 p.m. doubleheader