Mars Hill falls to No. 1 Wingate in season finale

WINGATE, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (18-29, 9-14 SAC) fell to No. 1 Wingate (41-6, 21-2 SAC) by scores of 3-1 and 10-1 on the road Saturday afternoon.

GAME ONE: WU 3, MHU 1

The Bulldogs scored three first inning runs that proved to be difference in their game one win.

Gehrig Christopher opened the scoring with a RBI single to left field.  Later in the frame Christopher, along with Logan McNeely were plated off a Seaver King double to right field, extending Wingate's lead to three.

Following three scoreless innings, Ruben Trillo broke the shutout bid with a RBI double down the left field line that scored Jordan Lathe.

Austin Mitchell struck out five, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings for the win.  Andrew Hazell was credited with the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in four innings while striking out four.

GAME TWO: WU 10, MHU 1

Wingate plated five in the first en route to the sweep.

Capitalizing on two Mars Hill errors, the Bulldogs plated five in the first inning.  Kyle Jenkins solo home run in the top of the second broke the shutout bid.

Wingate's Seaver King plated two in the bottom of the second with a double to left center and the Bulldogs tacked on a run apiece in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to pick up their 41st win of the season.

Jed Bryant led all players with two hits while King led all players with three RBI.  

Josh Dotson earned the win, allowing one run on three hits and striking out five in four innings pitched.  Barrett Williams was credited with the loss, allowing three runs on one hit.  

Despite falling to Wingate, the Lions clinched a berth into the South Atlantic Conference Baseball Championship Tournament as the eight seed.  

Mars Hill takes on the fifth seeded Catawba Indians on Thursday, April 28 in Kodak, Tennessee inside Smokies Stadium.  First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.