Hickory, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs finished off a three-game sweep at seventh-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne Sunday afternoon, prevailing 8-5 in South Atlantic Conference baseball action. Wingate improves to 18-9 overall and 8-4 in the SAC, while the Bears fall to 22-8 overall and 6-3 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Lenoir-Rhyne 15-8
- The 'Dogs had five of the six extra-base hits and the lone homer
- The Bears left seven on base; the Bulldogs stranded six
- LR had the lone error in the contest; each team had a stolen base
- Lenoir-Rhyne turned three double plays on the day
- LR pitching struck out six and walked two; WU had four strikeouts and four walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Sean Barnett was three-for-four with a homer, three RBI and three runs scored
- Ricky Clark went three-for-four with a double and an RBI
- Lane Rhodes was two-for-three with a double, RBI and run scored
- Michael Dansky went four-for-five with a triple and two runs scored
- Andrew McKay added a hit and an RBI
- Brett Adams also drove in a run
- Isaiah Williams-Rhem added a hit and a run scored
- Sam Brodersen allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings, striking out two
- Jordan Howard worked 2 1/3 innings to earn the win
- Austin Johnson tossed the final 2 1/3 frames without allowing a run to earn the save

FOURTH INNING

- Singles from Barnett and Clark put two on for the 'Dogs
- An RBI single from McKay got Wingate on the board
- Tyler McPeak tied it in the bottom of the frame with a solo homer

FIFTH INNING

- RBI singles from Zach Evans and Blake Bean gave LR a 3-1 lead

SIXTH INNING

- Barnett lined a two-out double to right center
- He scored on Clark's RBI single to pull Wingate within a run

SEVENTH INNING

- Rhodes ripped a one-out double to right center
- King's RBI single plated Rhodes to tie it at three
- Dansky followed with a single
- Barnett delivered the big blow, a towering three-run shot to left to give WU a 6-3 lead
- McPeak's RBI single in the bottom of the frame cut the lead to two
- Mason Maxwell followed with an RBI single to make it 6-5

EIGHTH INNING

- Williams-Rhem led off the inning with a single, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch
- He scored on a sacrifice fly from Rhodes to make it 7-5

NINTH INNING

- Dansky led off the frame with a triple to right center
- A sacrifice fly from Adams plated Dansky to make it 8-5

WRAPUP

- Howard got the win, allowing two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings, striking out two
- Johnson notched his second save, tossing 2 1/3 shutout frames, allowing just one hit
- Braden Houston took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Tuesday, hosting Lander at 6 p.m.
- The 'Dogs host a three-game SAC series against Catawba this weekend, starting Friday at 6 p.m.