Hickory, N.C.----The fifth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University Bulldogs swept a doubleheader against visiting Wingate University in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon. The Bears won the opener 5-2, while prevailing 3-0 in the finale to move to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the SAC. The Bulldogs fall to 6-4 overall and 1-2 in league play.

GAME ONE | LENOIR-RHYNE 5 WINGATE 2

KEY STATS

- Lenoir-Rhyne out-hit Wingate 7-6
- The Bears had three of the four extra-base hits
- The Bulldogs left six on base; LR stranded five
- Each team had a stolen base
- The 'Dogs committed the lone error in the contest
- LR pitching struck out nine and walked one; WU had seven strikeouts and four walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Jalen Evans had a double and two RBI for the Bulldogs
- Tanner McCammon had a hit and scored a run
- Reed Benamati also collected a hit and scored a run
- Sean Sullivan added a pair of hits
- JD Little went 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits
- Cole Smith struck out four in 2 2/3 innings, allowing a pair of runs

THIRD INNING

- A Trent Murchison sacrifice fly got Lenoir-Rhyne on the board
- Lleyton Lackey's RBI groundout made it 2-0

SIXTH INNING

- An RBI double from Andrew Muraco gave the Bears a three-run cushion

SEVENTH INNING

- A McCammon single and fielder's choice put two on for the Bulldogs
- A two-run double from Evans pulled Wingate within a run
- Lackey connected on a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to make it 5-2

WRAPUP

- Hugo Tafoya got the win, allowing two runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven
- Little took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out three

GAME TWO | LENOIR-RHYNE 3 WINGATE 0

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Lenoir-Rhyne 7-6
- The Bears had three of the four extra-base hits including the lone homer
- The Bulldogs left eight on base; LR stranded three
- Lenoir-Rhyne committed two of the three errors
- WU pitching struck out five without a walk; LR had four strikeouts and no walks

KEY BULLDOGS

- Connor Langley allowed two earned runs in six innings of work, striking out four without a walk
- Bowel Powell and Jake Courville had two hits apiece
- Bradley Hart added a double

SECOND INNING

- Sylas Boris connected on a solo homer to give LR an early 1-0 lead

FOURTH INNING

- An RBI double from Boris stretched the lead to two
- A Wingate error allowed another run to score, making it 3-0

WRAPUP

- Kellen Gradisar got the win, tossing seven shutout frames, allowing seven hits while striking out four
- Longley took the loss, allowing two earned runs on six hits in six innings, striking out five

UP NEXT

- The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday, hosting Findlay at noon