Kodak, Tenn.----The top-seeded and top-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-1 lead Monday afternoon in the SAC baseball championship game, but the Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears used a six-run fourth inning and nine-run sixth inning to rally for an 18-8 victory and claim the 2022 SAC Tournament title. The Bears improve to 44-11 overall, while the 'Dogs fall to 46-8 on the season.

KEY STATS

- LR out-hit Wingate 20-12
- Each team had four extra-base hits; Lenoir-Rhyne had both homers
- The Bears committed four of the five errors
- Wingate left 11 on base; LR stranded eight
- The 'Dogs had both stolen bases
- WU pitching struck out five and walked four; LR had five strikeouts and five walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Seaver King was four-for-five with two doubles and two RBI
- Logan McNeely went three-for-three with a double, RBI and three runs scored
- Mitch Farris added two hits including a double, driving in a run and scoring twice
- Gehrig Christopher contributed a hit and an RBI
- Ricky Clark notched an RBI and scored a run
- Michael Dansky added a hit and run scored

SECOND INNING

- King ripped a leadoff double to center, then scored when Christopher reached on an error

THIRD INNING

- Dansky started things with a single, then scored on a McNeely RBI double
- Clark's sacrifice fly put Wingate on top 3-0
- Cole Laskowski homered in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to two

FOURTH INNING

- Two-out singles from McNeely and Farris, followed by a walk loaded the bases
- King reached on an infield single, while an error allowed two more runs to score, making it 6-1
- LR scored six times in the bottom of the frame to take the lead
- A Laskowski RBI single tied it at six; A Drew Yniesta RBI single gave the Bears a one-run lead

SIXTH INNING

- McNeely drew a walk, then scored on a Farris RBI double to tie it
- King's RBI double plated Farris to give the Bulldogs an 8-7 lead
- The Bears answered with nine runs on seven hits in the bottom of the frame
- A Yniesta RBI single started the scoring, tying the game at eight
- Nick Clarno followed with a two-run single to put the Bears on top for good
- A David Bell two-run single and Laskowski squeeze bunt plated the final three runs of the frame, making it 16-8

SEVENTH INNING

- Clarno led off the frame with a solo homer
- An Erick Ramirez RBI single plated the final run of the night, making it 18-8

WRAPUP

- Braden Houston got the win, moving to 4-1, allowing five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings
- Brett Adams took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings

UP NEXT

- Wingate will learn its postseason fate May 15 when the NCAA bracket is announced
- The defending national champs were the number two seed in the most recent Southeast Region poll