Wingate Defeats Baseball in Series Opener

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill baseball team lost 8-2 to Wingate in the opening game of a South Atlantic Conference series on Friday afternoon at Henderson Field. With the win, Wingate improves to 16-6 overall and 11-4 in league play, while Mars Hill drops to 9-16 and an even 8-8 in the league. 

Josh Clark singled to center field to drive in Thomas Spitz to put the Bulldogs up 1-0 after their first at-bat. Dalton Eisenbath and Adam Daniel hit back-to-back doubles in the fourth frame to tie the contest at 1-all.

Clark put the Bulldogs ahead 2-1 in the fifth inning after hitting a single up the middle to plate Shane Billings. Later in the inning, Eric Serra scored on a wild pitch to make the score 3-1 in favor of the visitors.

In Mars Hill sixth, Dustin Jones reached on a Wingate error, stole second and scored on an Evan Rogers single to bring the Lions to within a run.

Wingate added a pair of runs in the eighth. Justin Somers reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a Shane Billings single, with Michael Godinez scoring on a passed ball. 

The Lions loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning thanks to a pair of singles and a Wingate error. However, Mars Hill was unable to push any runs across as Patrick Haynes got the Bulldogs out of the jam thanks to a strikeout and groundout.

A two -run double in the ninth inning by Blake Prince gave Wingate a 7-2 lead, with the final run of the game coming thanks to a Somers sacrifice fly. Eisenbath hit his second double of the contest in the home half of the inning, but a groundout ended the game. 

The teams combined to leave 24 runners on base, with Wingate stranding 10 runners and Mars Hill leaving 14 on the sacks. 

Rogers went two-for-four with a single, double and RBI to lead Mars Hill. Eisenbath went two-for-five with two doubles and a run scored. Rogers went two-for-five with two singles and an RBI.

Clark went three-for-four with three singles, two RBIs and a run scored to lead Wingate. Billings and Godinez had two hits each.

Olen Little earned his sixth win of the season, allowing two runs, one earned, on nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts in six innings. Haynes earned the save, allowing one hit with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work. 

Patrick Riehl was charged with the loss after he allowed three runs on four hits with five walks and five strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.

The teams will conclude the three-game series tomorrow with a double-header beginning at 12 p.m.