Wingate, N.C.----The second-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs scored the final six runs of the day Sunday evening, overcoming an 11-6 deficit to prevail 12-11 over third-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne University on day three of the South Atlantic Conference baseball tournament at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Bulldogs went 3-0 in the SAC Tourney opening round, advancing to the championship series to take on Catawba in Asheboro, N.C. this weekend. Wingate improves to 37-16 overall, while the Bears fall to 37-13-1 on the year.
KEY STATS
- Lenoir-Rhyne out-hit Wingate 15-13
- The 'Dogs had six of the 11 extra-base hits; each team homered
- The Bulldogs left nine on base; the Bears stranded eight
- Lenoir-Rhyne committed four of the five errors
- The 'Dogs had all five stolen bases
- WU pitching struck out six and walked four; LR had four strikeouts and six walks
KEY BULLDOGS
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Bowen Powell went four-for-five with a double, homer, three RBI and four runs scored
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Neil Griffin added a double, three RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored
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Jake Courville was two-for-five with a double, RBI and two runs scored
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Jalen Evans was two-for-four with an RBI, two stolen bases and a run scored
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Tanner McCammon added two hits including a double, driving in a run and scoring a run
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Reed Benamati collected a hit and an RBI
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Gavin Groppuso had a hit, two stolen bases and two runs scored
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Jett Thomas tossed five shutout frames, striking out four while allowing just four hits
FIRST INNING
- A Lleyton Lackey RBI double started the LR scoring
- Seth Christmas added a sacrifice fly, while an Andrew Still sacrifice fly made it 3-0
- A Groppuso walk and Courville single started the bottom of the frame
- Powell's RBI single got the 'Dogs on the board
- McCammon followed with an RBI double
- Griffin's two-run double put the 'Dogs on top 4-3
- Benamati added an RBI single to stretch the lead to two
SECOND INNING
- A Matt Procopio two-run single tied it at five
- Nathan Kidde added a two-run single to give the Bears a 7-5 lead
-A Powell double, followed by a walk and hit batter started the bottom of the frame
- Griffin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cut the lead to one
FOURTH INNING
- Drew Beard's RBI single gave LR an 8-6 lead
- Still added a sacrifice fly to push the advantage to three
- A Sylas Boris two-run homer gave Lenoir-Rhyne an 11-6 cushion
SIXTH INNING
- Groppuso led off the frame with a double
- Courville's RBI double plated Groppuso
- Powell launched a two-run homer down the right field line to make it 11-9
EIGHTH INNING
- Powell led off the inning with a single, then moved to second on a wild pitch
- He scored on an RBI single from Evans to make it a one-run game
- Evans then stole second and third while Griffin drew a walk
- Griffin then stole second, with Evans scoring on an error on the play to tie it
- Griffin scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch
NINTH INNING
- Thomas struck out the first two batters of the ninth
- He induced a game-ending groundout to clinch the Bulldog victory
WRAPUP
- Thomas got the win, moving to 3-1 on the year
- He tossed five shutout frames, allowing just four hits while striking out four without a walk
- LR threatened with two singles in the sixth, but Thomas got out of it with a strikeout
- After a one-out single in the seventh, he induced an inning-ending double play
- Thomas set the Bears down in order in the eighth and ninth, punching out three
- Abram Grandstaff took the loss, allowing three runs on two hits in 2 1/3 innings
UP NEXT
- Wingate will face top-seeded Catawba in the best two-out-of-three championship series
- Game one is set for Friday, May 8 at 4 p.m.
- Game two will be Saturday, May 9 at 12 p.m.
- If necessary, game three will take place Saturday at 4 p.m.
- Every game will take place at McCrary Park in Asheboro, N.C.
