Wingate, N.C.----The top-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs defeated Mars Hill University 10-2 on Friday night, clinching their seventh regular season South Atlantic Conference championship and their first since 2014. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 39-6 overall and 19-2 in the SAC, while the Lions drop to 18-27 overall and 9-12 in league play. The 'Dogs have 14 league championships all-time, with seven SAC Tourney titles to go along with the seven regular season championships. The 39 wins ties last season's record for most wins in this millennium for Wingate.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Mars Hill 9-5
- The Bulldogs recorded four of the seven extra-base hits
- WU left five runners on the bases; MHU stranded nine
- The Lions committed four of the five errors in the field
- Wingate had both stolen bases in the contest
- WU pitching struck out a season-high 21 batters and walked five; MHU struck out three and walked four

KEY BULLDOGS

- Brody McCullough threw 115 pitches Friday night, striking out 13 in six innings
- The right-hander has struck out nine or more in seven of nine outings this season
- Seaver King powered the offense with a three-for-four night with two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base
- Jed Bryant and Logan McNeely each drove in two runs
- Michael Dansky went two-for-four with two doubles, a walk and two runs scored
- Andrew McKay drove in a run on a double
- Mitch Farris and Andrew Motsinger also tallied an RBI for Wingate
- Jordan Howard, Corey Avant and Sam Brodersen combined to strike out eight in three shutout innings

NOTES

- The conference championship marks Wingate's 13th in the SAC
- The 'Dogs have matched their entire win total from last season
- Wingate will be the one seed in the SAC Tournament for the first time since 2010
- WU ranks number one in the country in walks
- They also lead the SAC in runs and triples
- The defending national champs top the SAC and are third in the country in win percentage

SECOND INNING

- Kyle Jenkins and Jordan Lathe hit back-to-back doubles as Mars Hill took an early 1-0 lead
- King roped a single to center field, scoring Farris from second and tying the game in the bottom half
- Motsinger's single down the right field line scored King
- Justin Guy recorded an RBI fielder's choice to tack on the third run of the inning

THIRD INNING

- Dansky doubled to lead off the third inning
- McNeely singled up the middle to score the runner and add to the Wingate lead

FIFTH INNING

- Bryant walked to lead off the fifth, later advancing to third on Dansky's second double of the night
- McNeely's sac fly to moved the runners up 90 feet and gave the 'Dogs a 5-1 lead
- Farris followed suit, scoring Dansky on a sacrifice fly
- With the bases empty, Grayson Chapman ripped a triple down the right field line
- King cashed in the third run of the inning on a single to left field

SIXTH INNING

- MHU got back on the board on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch
- Guy reached on a throwing error with one out in the sixth
- He then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Lions' catcher
- Bryant plated Guy in the next at-bat on a sac fly to center field

EIGHTH INNING

- King and Isaiah Williams-Rhem reached base safely to start the eighth
- McKay ripped a pinch-hit, two-run double down the left field line to extend the Wingate lead to 10-2

WRAPUP

- McCollough earned the win, improving to 8-1 on the year
- He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks, striking out 13 on 115 pitches
- Sam Kaplan took the loss for MHU, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and three walks in seven innings of work
- Howard, Avant and Brodersen each allowed just one base runner in their respective innings, utilizing the punch out for eight of the nine outs in relief

UP NEXT

- The Bulldogs wrap up their conference regular season schedule with a doubleheader with the Lions tomorrow on Senior Day
- Senior Day festivities will begin at 12:15 p.m.; first pitch is set for 1 p.m.