VIDEO | Press Conference (Jeff Greogry, Mitch Farris, Gehrig Christopher)

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs utilized a complete game one-hit shutout from redshirt sophomore left-hander Mitch Farris and five RBI from graduate student Gehrig Christopher, rolling to a 9-0 win over Young Harris College to stave off elimination in the NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament. The Bulldogs advance to Sunday's regional final and improve to 48-9 overall, while Young Harris' season ends with a 39-20 overall record.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Wingate out-hit Young Harris 11-1
- The Bulldogs had all five extra-base hits in the game including the lone homer
- YHC left two runners on base; WU stranded nine
- The Mountain Lions committed the only error of the contest
- Wingate recorded each of the two stolen bases
- Farris struck out 14 and walked one, while Young Harris' staff struck out 11 and walked six
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Farris needed just 95 pitches in the one-hit, complete-game shutout, striking out 14
- His last base runner allowed was in the fourth inning, retiring the final 16 batters he faced
- Christopher recorded a double in each of the first two innings, driving in five runs
- Logan McNeely was a triple short of the cycle with a three-for-five performance with a home run and two RBI
- Seaver King added two hits, two walks, two runs scored and another driven in
- Andrew McKay tripled and later scored
- Andrew Motsinger walked twice, drove in a run and scored another
 
NOTES
 
- Farris has now gone 30 1/3 consecutive innings without giving up a run
- In two postseason starts this season, he has tossed 18 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and one walk, while striking out 21 batters
- The Bulldogs posted their program-best 48th win of the season on Saturday night
- Wingate has won five of their last six regional games; 12 of their last 14 NCAA Tournament games
- The 'Dogs have won six consecutive elimination games in the NCAA Tournament
 
FIRST INNING
 
- Motsinger walked and stole second to lead off the first inning
- McNeely's two-run homer to left center put the 'Dogs up 2-0 early
- Farris, Ricky Clark and King each reached base safely with one out
- Christopher's double cleared the bases, capping Wingate's five-run opening frame
 
SECOND INNING
 
- McNeely doubled to lead off the second inning
- Christopher deposited an opposite-field double, scoring McNeely and King to give him five RBI through two innings
 
FIFTH INNING
 
- McKay tripled down the right field line to lead off the fifth inning
- Motsinger's sac fly brought him home, as the Bulldogs extended their lead
 
SIXTH INNING
 
- McNeely recorded his third hit of the night on a leadoff single to right center
- After reaching second base, McNeely scored on King's RBI single to put the 'Dogs up 9-0
 
WRAPUP
 
- Farris earned the win in the shutout, improving to 7-1 on the season
- A Mountain Lion reached second base just once on the night, as Farris allowed no runs on one hit and one walk, fanning 14 on just 95 pitches
- The All-Region Utility player now has a 1.70 ERA on the year with 69  strikeouts in 53 innings
- Mason Herbert took the loss for YHC
- He allowed five runs on four hits and three walks in 0.2 innings
 
UP NEXT
 
- The Bulldogs advance to Sunday's Regional Final
- Wingate needs two wins over #9 Columbus State on Sunday, with game one at 1 p.m.
- If the 'Dogs win the 1 p.m. game the teams meet again 45 minutes after the end of the contest
- The winner of that game advances to next weekend's Super Regionals
- If CSU wins game one, the Cougars are onto the Super Regionals