Baseball Beats Wingate 4-3

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Lions baseball team opened South Atlantic Conference play with a 4-3 victory over visiting Wingate University Saturday afternoon at Henderson Field. Mars Hill improved to 12-4 overall and 1-0 in the league while the Bulldogs fell to 8-6 on the season, 0-1 in the conference.

Evan Rogers led MHU at the plate going 2-2 with a homerun, two runs scored and a stolen base. Logan Conley went 1-3 with a double and two RBI while Dalton Eisenbath was 2-4 at the plate with a run scored. Drayden Williams took his season record to 4-0 on the mound pitching the final four innings in relief. He allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out three Wingate batters.

Andrew Llewellyn led the Bulldogs offensively going 2-4 with a homerun. Shane Billings and Zach Little also recorded two hits apiece. Billings added a double. Kory Behenna suffered the loss (1-2) on the mound for Wingate.

Billings scored the first run of the game in the Bulldogs' first at-bat when he crossed the plate on a fielder's choice. Rogers then tied the game in the bottom half of the first inning when he crossed the plate on a Wingate balk.

Llewellyn gave Wingate a 2-1 lead in the second inning on a solo homerun to left field. Colby Barnette extended the Bulldogs lead to 3-1 when he scored Billings on a sacrifice fly to left field.

Rogers led the bottom of the sixth inning off with a homerun to left field before a RBI double from Conley knotted the game at 3-all. Christian Stampler scored the tying run.

Conley hit another sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Eisenbath for the game-winning run in the seventh frame. Eisenbath singled to left field to reach base. Williams threw well in his final two innings of work to seal the win for the Lions.

The teams will meet for a double-header tomorrow at Henderson Field. The first game is set to begin at 1 p.m.