Asheboro, N.C.----The third-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs scored 11 of the final 12 runs of the game Friday afternoon, rolling to an 11-4 victory over fifth-seeded Lincoln Memorial University in game one of the 2024 South Atlantic Conference baseball series. Wingate improves to 32-23 overall, needing just one more win to claim the championship. The Railsplitters fall to 33-16 on the year.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit LMU 12-8
- The 'Dogs had five of the six extra-base hits and three of the four homers
- Each team left seven on base
- Lincoln Memorial committed the lone error of the contest
- The Bulldogs had the only stolen base
- WU pitching struck out eight and walked three; LMU had six strikeouts and five walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Sean Barnett was three-for-five with two homers, a double, five RBI and three runs scored
- He has now blasted six homers in the last five SAC Tourney games for the 'Dogs
- Breon Ishmael went two-for-four with a homer and three RBI
- Isaiah Williams-Rhem added two hits including a double, driving in a run and scoring twice
- Michael Dansky also drove in a run
- Cam Harris was two-for-four with three runs scored
- Lane Rhodes went two-for-three with a run scored
- Kelan Hoover went six innings to earn the win, striking out six
- Brent Walls tossed three shutout frames to earn the save, striking out two

FIRST INNING

- A Carson Boles three-run homer gave the Railsplitters a quick 3-0 lead
- The 'Dogs countered with five runs in the bottom of the frame
- Harris and Williams-Rhem drew walks to start the inning
- Barnett launched a three-run homer to left center to tie it
- Brett Adams followed by drawing a walk
- Ishmael then connected on a two-run shot to right center, giving Wingate a 5-3 lead

FOURTH INNING

- An RBI single from Mitch Petzelt pulled LMU within one at 5-4
- The Bulldogs answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame
- A Williams-Rhem double and Harris single put runners on the corners to start the inning
- Williams-Rhem scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead back to two
- Barnett lined an RBI double down the left field line to make it 7-4
- Ishmael's sacrifice fly plated Barnett to put the 'Dogs on top by four

SIXTH INNING

- Singles from Harris and Ishmael, along with an LMU error loaded the bases for Wingate
- Dansky's RBI groundout made it 9-4

SEVENTH INNING

- Rhodes started the frame with a single
- He went to second on a passed ball, then moved to third on a Jake Courville sacrifice
- An RBI single from Williams-Rhem made it 10-4

EIGHTH INNING

- Barnett put the finishing touches on the victory with a solo shot to left, making it 11-4
- The junior now has 23 homers and 79 RBI on the year, tied for the national lead in homers

WRAPUP

- Hoover got the win, moving to 7-2 on the year
- He allowed four runs on five hits in six innings, striking out six and walking three
- Hoover allowed just one run over his final five innings of work
- Walls allowed three hits in his three shutout frames, striking out two to notch his second save
- Christian Pencek took the loss, allowing five runs on two hits without getting an out, walking four

UP NEXT

- The two teams meet again Saturday in Asheboro, with game one slated for 12 p.m.
- If Wingate wins, the Bulldogs claim the SAC title
- If LMU wins, the two teams will play one more game at 4 p.m. for the title