Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs scored a combined 27 runs in 16 innings Saturday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader over Emory & Henry to complete the three-game conference sweep in South Atlantic Conference baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium. Wingate took the opener 16-9 and claimed the nightcap 11-8. The Bulldogs improve to 26-8 overall and 16-5 in the SAC. Emory & Henry falls to 8-23 and 5-16.
GAME ONE | Wingate 16, Emory & Henry 9
KEY STATS
- All of Wingate's starting nine recorded at least one hit, with eight players finishing with two or more hits
- Wingate was patient at the plate, working eight walks
- The teams combined for 33 hits, eight of which were doubles
KEY BULLDOGS
- Jake Courville led the offense, going three-for-five with two singles, a double and three runs scored.
- Reed Benamati drove in a game-best five runs, going two-for-three with a double
FIRST INNING
- After JD Little retired Emory & Henry in order in the top of the frame, Gavin Groppuso worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a Bowen Powell single before scoring on a fielder's choice to put Wingate ahead 1-0
- Tanner McCammon reached on a fielder's choice and scored thanks to a Courville single
- Jalen Evans smacked a two-run double that plated Courville and Neil Griffin to make it 4-0
SECOND INNING
- Groppuso reached on a one-out single, stole second and scored on a McCammon RBI double to make the score 5-0
THIRD INNING
- Drew Park got Emory & Henry on the scoreboard after opening the inning with a double, advancing to third on a base hit and scoring on a Stuart Calla sacrifice fly
- Wingate answered with two runs scoring on a Benamati double to go up 7-1
FIFTH INNING
- Jaxon Ehret led off the inning with a single and scored on a bases-loaded base hit by Rhett Barker
- Jaret Hoppes brought home two more runs on a double that slashed the Wingate lead to 7-4
- The Wasps took advantage of a Bulldog error to score two more runs and pull within one, 7-6
- Wingate plated two runs, one as a result of a Wasp miscue and the other on a bases-loaded walk to McCammon for a 9-6 edge
SIXTH INNING
- Benamati reached via a bases-loaded walk to add a run
- Groppuso brought home a run on a sacrifice fly to give the hosts an 11-6 lead
SEVENTH INNING
- J.D James' single and a Jeriel Lambo RBI groundout brought home two runs as Emory & Henry slashed the deficit in half
- Wingate responded with four runs thanks to singles
- Ben Karpowicz smacked a base hit that plated Powell
- Jordan Dixon brought home two more runs on with a single with another run scoring on a Benamati base hit for an 15-8 lead
EIGHTH INNING
- Courville singled to bring home Wingate's final run
NINTH INNING
- Calla singled to give Emory & Henry their ninth run
WRAPUP
- Little got the win, allowing five runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out seven
- Drew Lanzo was charged with the loss
- He surrendered seven runs on 11 hits in three innings
GAME TWO | Wingate 11, Emory & Henry 8
KEY STATS
- Wingate scored four runs in the second inning and added two runs in both the third and fourth innings to take control
- Emory & Henry left 10 runners on base
KEY BULLDOGS
- McCammon drove in four runs with a three-run home run and a double
- Benamati went three-for-four with three singles and an RBI
- McCammon, Groppuso and Jalen Evans each recorded two hits
FIRST INNING
- Drew Park gave Emory & Henry a 2-0 lead with a two-out, two-run single
- McCammon answered the challenge for Wingate, belting a three-run home run for a 3-2 Bulldog lead
SECOND INNING
- Rhett Barker tied the game at 3 with a single.
- The Wasps grabbed a 4-3 edge on a sacrifice bunt.
- Wingate scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning
- Courville and Evans both drove in a run with a base hit while two Emory & Henry errors led to two runs
THIRD INNING
- McCammon's double brought home a run and a sacrifice fly by Karpowicz put Wingate ahead 9-4.
FOURTH INNING
- Benamati brought home a run with a two-out single
- He would score on a Groppuso double for an 11-4 lead
FIFTH INNING
- Stuart Calla brought home a run with a two-out single
SIXTH INNING
- A Wingate error allowed two runs to score
SEVENTH INNING
- The Wasps scored the game's final run on a groundout
WRAPUP
- Kolt Nelson earned the win, allowing four runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts in four innings
- Cole Gillis took the loss
- He allowed nine runs, six earned, on eight hits with five walks and four strikeouts in three innings.
UP NEXT
- Wingate welcomes No. 24 Belmont Abbey to Ron Christopher Stadium on Tuesday
- First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.