Box Score
WINGATE, N.C.-The Wingate University Bulldogs blasted six home runs and then held on for a 13-12 Southeast Region victory over the visiting Bulldogs of Barton College in NCAA Division II baseball action Tuesday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field.
Wingate improved to 8-5 overall, with an 8-2 mark in nonconference action. Barton fell to 4-7 on the season.
The slugfest featured 35 combined hits with Barton totaling 18 and Wingate registering 17.
Junior outfielder Clay Martin and sophomore infielder Collins Cuthrell each had three hits and two RBI to lead the Barton attack. Junior catcher Zac Crumpler was two-for-three with an RBI and two runs scored, while senior outfielder Ryan Daughtry also drove in two runs for the visiting Bulldogs.
Senior infielder Jacob Karr was three-for-six with two homers, four RBI and three runs scored to lead the Wingate attack. Senior outfielder Dodson McPherson was three-for-five with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored. Senior outfielder Casey Allison and redshirt junior first baseman Brian Yeung each had two hits and a homer, while senior infielder Chris Vazquez added a homer and two runs scored.
The Wingate Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, belting a pair of homers. Allison got things started with a leadoff homer, his second of the year. After a walk, McPherson lined his fourth homer of the year to right, a two-run shot to make it 3-0.
Barton answered with six runs in the second to take a three-run lead. The BC Bulldogs pounded out eight hits in the inning. Back-to-back RBI doubles from freshman outfielder Tyler George and freshman infielder Spiers Miller started the scoring. A squeeze bunt from senior infielder Chris Rawlings tied it at three. A double steal put Barton on top, while RBI singles from Daughtry and Cuthrell capped the scoring in the inning, making it 6-3.
Wingate had the answer in the bottom of the frame, scoring five times to regain the lead. The first run scored on an RBI groundout from Allison. Karr added an RBI single to get the 'Dogs to within one. Junior designated hitter Jason Hunter followed with the big hit of the inning, a three-run double to left to give Wingate an 8-6 lead.
Barton tied it in the third on a two-run single from Martin. The host Bulldogs took a 9-8 lead in the bottom of the third when Vazquez led off the inning with his third home of the season. Karr led off the fourth inning with his second homer of the year to make it 10-8.
Yeung blasted his first homer of the season to lead off the sixth to give Wingate a three-run lead. McPherson led off the seventh with a single, then scored on Karr's second homer of the day, a two-run shot to left, making it 13-8.
Barton plated four runs in the eighth to cut the lead to one. Crumpler started the scoring with an RBI double down the left field line. Martin followed with an RBI groundout, while an RBI double from Cuthrell made it 13-11. He would score on a passed ball to make it a one-run game.
Redshirt junior right-hander Josh Karr entered the game in the ninth, shutting down Barton to notch his fourth save of the season. He got the win for sophomore right-hander Olen Little, who was dominant in relief. He went 4 2/3 innings, allowing only one bloop single while striking out six, improving to 2-0 on the year. Freshman right-hander Brandon Warren took the loss, falling to 1-1. He allowed two runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings, striking out two.
Barton begins Conference Carolinas play with its first trip to Bristol, Tenn., to play league newcomer King College for a three-game series on Saturday (Noon) and Sunday (1 p.m.).
Special thanks to Wingate sports information department for providing the above release.
