#6 WINGATE SURVIVES #2 PRESBYTERIAN, ADVANCES IN SAC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
NEWBERRY, S.C. – Sixth-seeded Wingate University scored seven runs in the first two innings and held off a late-inning rally to defeat the No. 2 Presbyterian College Blue Hose 7-5 in an elimination game at the South Atlantic Conference baseball tournament Friday afternoon at Bill Harvey Field.
Wingate opened the scoring with three runs in the first inning and four runs in the second, beginning each rally with two out. After junior first baseman John Spencer was hit by a pitch, senior left fielder Andrew Romberger and senior right fielder Chris Torres hit back-to-back home runs for a 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, Spencer doubled home senior second baseman Stuart James, and Romberger followed with his second round-tripper of the game, this time a three-run shot to increase the Bulldog lead to 7-0.
Presbyterian began its rally in the fourth frame when sophomore Kevin White hit his 17th home run of the season to come within 7-2.
With the score 7-3 in the ninth inning, White put another pitch over the fence with a runner on to pull the Blue Hose even closer, 7-5. Junior Davis Rice reached base via a single and Kenny Campbell was hit by a pitch to bring the winning run to the plate. With that, Wingate brought in closer Louis Mitcham, who earned his eighth save of the season with one pitch, inducing freshman Jordan Taylor into a game-ending double play.
Wingate senior Robert Stover (4-3) went seven innings and allowed three runs on five hits and struck out nine. PC starter Mark Dudley (7-4) pitched just 1.2 innings and gave up seven earned runs and six hits. Sophomore Travis Hill pitched 6.1 innings of one-hit relief.
Wingate (28-22-1) advances in the elimination bracket to face No. 1 seed Carson-Newman College at 8:30 p.m. on Friday. Presbyterian ends their season at 25-29.