VIDEO | Press Conference (Jeff Gregory, Brody McCullough, Seaver King)

Wingate, N.C.----The fifth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs pounded out 17 hits en route to their 9-4 win over Young Harris College in the opening round of NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament Thursday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium. The Bulldogs improve to 47-8 overall, while the Mountain Lions drop to 38-18 overall and begin play in the elimination bracket tomorrow.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Wingate out-hit Young Harris 17-6
- The Mountain Lions had two of three extra-base hits; the Bulldogs had the lone homer
- YHC left three runners on the bases; WU stranded 10
- Both teams committed two errors in the contest
- Wingate stole all five bases in the game
- The Bulldogs' staff struck out 11 and walked two; Young Harris's dealers struck out five and walked four
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Seaver King went two-for-five with a grand slam and five RBI
- Andrew Motsinger was three-for-five with an RBI and a run scored
- Mitch Farris chipped in three hits and scored three runs
- Jed Bryant added two more hits, drove in a run and scored another
- Michael Dansky had a three-hit day and scored a run
- Justin Guy got on base four times, drove in a run and scored another, swiping two bases
- Ricky Clark had two base hits as one of six 'Dogs with multiple hits
- Brody McCullough struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings of work
- Jordan Howard did not allow a hit in the final 2 1/3 innings in relief
 
NOTES
 
- Wingate has won six straight NCAA Tournament games
- The Bulldogs have won five consecutive games in regional play
- WU is 27-1 at Ron Christopher Stadium this season; the 'Dogs have won 39 of their last 41 games at home
- The Bulldogs are 19-4 in postseason play over the last two years
 
FIRST INNING
 
- Dansky, Logan McNeely and Farris each got on base with one out in the first
- With two out, King's grand slam to dead center gave the 'Dogs an early 4-0 lead
 
SECOND INNING
 
- Mark Castle's RBI single got the Mountain Lions on the board in the next half inning
- Bryant scored Guy from third with no outs in the bottom half
- Bryant later came around to score on a wild pitch as the Bulldogs took a 6-1 lead
 
THIRD INNING
 
- Motsinger singled and stole second and third base in the third inning
- He scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Guy, taking a 7-1 lead
 
SIXTH INNING
 
- With two outs, back-to-back base hits from Farris and Clark put runners on the corners
- King tallied his fifth RBI of the game with a base hit to center field
 
SEVENTH INNING
 
- With two outs, Rome Wallace doubled and Steven Spell walked to put two runners on base for the Mountain Lions
- Mark Castle reached on an infield single, but a runner scored on a throwing error by the Bulldogs
- Aaron Copeland's two-RBI single brought YHC within four runs
 
EIGHTH INNING
 
- Farris singled and stole second to lead off the eighth inning
- A Motsinger RBI-single gave the 'Dogs one final insurance run
 
WRAPUP
 
- McCullough earned the win, improving to 9-1 on the year
- He allowed three earned runs on six hits and walked two, striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings of work
- Nate Lamb got the loss for YHC, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks; he struck out three in 2.0 innings
- Howard got the final seven outs for Wingate, not allowing a hit
 
UP NEXT
 
- The 'Dogs take on Columbus State Friday evening at Ron Christopher Stadium
- The contest between the two unbeaten teams in the regional starts at 7 p.m.