Late runs lift Wingate past Carson-Newman, 10-5
Jefferson City, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldogs used a five-run seventh inning to finish off the weekend sweep at Carson-Newman College, winning 10-5 in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs win their eighth straight overall, while notching their second straight weekend sweep. Wingate has now won 10 of its last 12 league games, improving to 22-14 overall and 10-8 in the SAC, sitting alone in third place in the league standings. Carson-Newman falls to 17-18 overall and 9-9 in the conference.
Jefferson City, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldogs used a five-run seventh inning to finish off the weekend sweep at Carson-Newman College, winning 10-5 in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs win their eighth straight overall, while notching their second straight weekend sweep. Wingate has now won 10 of its last 12 league games, improving to 22-14 overall and 10-8 in the SAC, sitting alone in third place in the league standings. Carson-Newman falls to 17-18 overall and 9-9 in the conference.
Junior infielder James Tedder (Clemmons, N.C.) had a homer and four RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Freshman designated hitter Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) was two-for-four with three RBI, while freshman outfielder Josh Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) was two-for-four with a homer and three runs scored. Senior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) had three hits and two runs scored, while redshirt junior first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) had two doubles and an RBI for the Bulldogs.
Spitz got things started in the top of the first, leading off the game with his third homer of the weekend and fifth of the year to give the 'Dogs a 1-0 lead. The Eagles answered with a run in the bottom of the frame, tying the game when Philip Duncan scored on Kyle Keoneman's double.
The Bulldogs regained the lead in the fourth when Yeung drew a leadoff walk, went to third on a single from Allison, then scored on Clark's sacrifice fly. Spitz ripped a two-out single in the fifth, then scored on an RBI double from senior infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) to make it 3-1. Tedder plated Allison with an RBI single in the sixth to push the lead to three.
The Eagles scored three in the bottom of the sixth to tie it at four. Troy Zawadzki started it with an RBI single, while an RBI single from Mason Guymon made it a one-run game. The Eagles tied it on Zach Long's RBI single.
Wingate had the emphatic answer, scoring five runs in the seventh to take a 9-4 lead. Senior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) drew a one-out walk, then went to third on Yeung's double. The Eagles intentionally walked Allison, loading the bases for Clark. The freshman ripped a two-run single to put the Bulldogs back on top. Tedder followed with the big blow of the game, a three-run homer to center to push the lead to five. The homer was the 12th of the weekend for the Bulldogs.
Yeung's RBI double in the ninth gave the 'Dogs a 10-4 advantage. Koeneman connected on a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to make the final margin 10-5.
Sophomore right-hander Stephen Vaughan (Wilmington, N.C.) got the win in relief, improving to 5-1 on the year. He retired all seven batters he faced, striking out three. Senior right-hander Justin Nygard (Wilson, N.C.) had another solid start, allowing just one run in five innings of work, striking out four. Ryan Fillers took the loss, falling to 4-5. He allowed seven runs on eight hits in three innings of work.
Carson-Newman returns to action on Wednesday against Pfeiffer University. First pitch is at 3 p.m. in Jefferson City. C-N travel to Salisbury, N.C. to face Catawba on Friday in the opener of a three-game South Atlantic Conference series.
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