VIDEO | Jeff Gregory Interview
VIDEO | Ricky Clark Interview

Wingate, N.C.----Coming off back-to-back historic seasons, the Wingate University Bulldogs get the 2023 baseball season started this week, traveling to Florida to take on Florida Tech for a four-game series starting Thursday at 6 p.m. After winning the first NCAA national title in program history in 2021, the 'Dogs backed it up by going 48-10 in the 2022 season, with a 21-2 record in league play to capture the regular season SAC title.

The 48 wins last season were a program record, while Wingate earned hosting duties at the NCAA Regionals for the first time in program history. The Bulldogs spent the entire regular season as the number one or two ranked team in the NCBWA top 25. The 'Dogs outscored opponents 500-272 on the year, posting a .313 batting average and a 4.37 team ERA. Wingate went 28-3 at home last season.

"We had a really good fall and now we're getting everyone back, going in the direction this spring," head coach Jeff Gregory says. "We are ready to go, guys did a great job of being prepared in the fall and transitioning that into a really solid spring when they came back in January. The team has been very diligent with everything and we're ready to get on the field this week."

With the huge success recently, the expectations and goals for the 'Dogs are big. "Our goals haven't changed, we still want to develop into the best team that we can be," Gregory says. "The guys have worked really hard, we have a lot of veteran leadership on this team, and a lot of new faces. We have been working into that premise and the guys have been doing a good job with it. They understand the situation they're in with all the success over the past couple of seasons. The team has done a good job continuing to find ways to improve. They understand that what's in the past is in the past. Each year is different, the league is really good, the region is super tough and we know we'll have to be at our best throughout the year."

PITCHERS

Despite losing All-American Brody McCullough to the MLB draft last summer, the 'Dogs still have huge talent returning on the mound, led by All-American Mitch Farris. The left-hander went 7-1 with a 1.70 ERA last season, with 15 of his 19 appearances coming out of the Wingate bullpen. Farris struck out 69 in 53 innings, held opponents to a .167 average, and tossed back-to-back complete game shutouts in the SAC Tournament and regionals, going the final 31 innings of the season without allowing a run.

Joining Farris in the starting rotation are Josh Dotson and Austin Mitchell, returning from last year's weekend rotation. Both were All-SAC honorees in 2022, with Mitchell picking up All-Region honors. Dotson was 6-2 with a 3.99 ERA, while Mitchell went 10-1 on the year with a 4.62 ERA. All-American reliever Sam Brodersen looks to make the transition into a starting role in 2023, after posting a 2.83 ERA in 25 appearances last year, notching eight saves while piling up 77 strikeouts in 47 innings of work.

The Bulldogs have plenty of depth in the bullpen, including players that could also be starters. All-SAC reliever Corey Avant, along with Jordan Howard will once again be key in the backend of the bullpen. Howard was 5-0 with two saves in 23 appearances last year, posting a 3.40 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 39 innings. Avant was 3-1 with two saves and a 3.41 ERA in 26 appearances last season, striking out 51 in 29 innings of work. Joining that duo as key parts of the bullpen include Austin Johnson, Sean Barnett, Tyler Frey and Brett Adams. Cal Riehl and Colin McDougal are a pair of arms that could see time out of the bullpen or in a starting role. Other key parts of the bullpen depth include redshirt freshman Tyler Novik, along with newcomers Zach Gonsiorowski, Harrison Miller and Mario Andres Hernandez.

"We've got so much depth and experience throughout our pitching staff this season," Gregory says. "It's nice to have so many guys that can do so many different things. With Mitch and Sam, along with Austin and Josh, we've got some strong starting pitching, while also having so many options out of the bullpen, with guys that can do a variety of things. We're hoping to get some of our young guys some chances early on in the season to see how they handle some spots, build some solid in-game experience early."

INFIELD

The infield is another spot where the Bulldogs have plenty of depth and experience, along with some young talent looking to make an impact. The infield includes preseason All-SAC honorees in Seaver King, Michael Dansky, Farris and Brett Adams, along with the return of Carson Simpson after missing all of 2022 due to injury. In addition to the returning talent, newcomers Ethan McCormick and Cam Harris will also look to contribute.

King was named the SAC Freshman of the Year, earning All-SAC and All-Region accolades while hitting a team-best .381 with a team-high 18 doubles to go along with four homers, three triples, 44 RBI and 34 runs scored, compiling a .640 slugging percentage. Farris added his huge bat to his impressive season on the mound, hitting .367 with nine homers, 12 doubles, three triples and 49 RBI, scoring 47 runs. Dansky hit .305 with 17 doubles, seven homers and 36 RBI, leading the 'Dogs with 65 runs scored. Simpson started 42 games during the national championship 2021 season, hitting .302 with six doubles, three triples, two homers, 34 RBI and 34 runs scored. Adams will also see time at first base, earning preseason all-conference honors after hitting .310 with two homers, six doubles, 21 RBI and 20 runs scored in 23 games last year. 2022 All-SAC third baseman Isaiah Williams-Rhem will see some time in the infield and the outfield for the 'Dogs in 2023.

"We are very athletic across the infield with great depth," Gregory says. "We're excited to get Carson back, Seaver had a great freshman season and Dansky has done a great job for us the last couple of years. Mitch and Brett give us a good combination at first base, and then we're excited to see what guys like Ethan and Cam can offer early on in the season."

OUTFIELD

Wingate has two more preseason All-SAC honorees in the outfield in Andrew Motsinger and Ricky Clark, while also returning key contributors in Andrew McKay, Barnett, Cam Carraway and Dom Byers, with Williams-Rhem also seeing time in the outfield this year.

Motsinger was an All-SAC and All-Region selection last season, hitting .364 with seven doubles, four triples, four homers and 38 RBI, scoring 60 runs while stealing 26 bases. Clark hit .343 last year after missing all of the 2021 season. He had 10 doubles, three triples and four homers, driving in 40 runs and scoring 35 times. Williams-Rhem had a big sophomore season, hitting .320 with eight doubles, two triples, a homer, 27 RBI and 40 runs scored, stealing 16 bases. Carraway hit a pair of homers in his 42 at-bats last year, while Byers scored seven runs in the 18 games he appeared in.

"All our guys in the outfield have had really strong springs so far," Gregory says. "We've got some really good depth with our outfielders, and I feel like we have different options with our lineup each day, which is a good advantage to have."

CATCHERS

The Bulldogs have four catches looking to play a role this year, with Kell Smith returning after starting 17 games last year, collecting a double, homer, eight RBI and nine runs scored. Newcomers Lane Rhodes and Josh Haggerty will also be key contributors behind the dish, along with redshirt sophomore Nathan Nygaard.

SCHEDULE

The Bulldogs will once again have a challenging slate in 2023, playing in what may be the best region in all of Division II. After Wingate won five straight games at the 2021 D2 World Series to claim the national title, North Greenville went 4-0 in 2022, giving the Southeast Region back-to-back national champions and nine straight World Series wins. The region has three teams ranked in the top five of the Collegiate Baseball top 25 poll and six in the top 15.

After opening the season with four games at Florida Tech, Wingate comes home to host three games against Charleston, an NCAA Tournament team from last year. Wingate travels to Belmont Abbey that week to face another 2022 NCAA Tourney foe, before welcoming yet another 2022 NCAA Tournament team in Nova Southeastern to town for a four-game series. The 'Dogs open league play with three games at Mars Hill Feb. 24-25, while hosting their first SAC series the following weekend against Emory & Henry. Wingate also has three games at Lenoir-Rhyne, another tournament team from last year, while also playing a pair against 2022 NCAA Tourney foe UNC Pembroke.