WINGATE, N.C. – The Limestone College baseball team surrendered 11 runs in the late innings to drop its fifth straight game as Wingate University rallied for a 14-9 nonconference win on Wednesday, April 10.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Wingate 14, Limestone 9
Records: Wingate (25-15), Limestone (13-28)
Location: Ron Christopher Stadium
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Junior Alex Cornell (Columbia, Conn.) bashed a pair of homeruns
- Senior Ryan Creps (Indiana, Pa.) doubled, tripled and finished with an RBI
- Freshman Benjamin Huber (Pendleton, S.C.) added two base knocks and two RBIs
- Junior Tyler O'Dell (North Handover, N.J.) tallied a double and two RBIs
- Senior Chase Allen (Sharpsburg, Ga.) posted his 10th homerun of the season
- Junior Ryan Williams (Rich Square, N.C.) chipped in his first double of the year
- Junior starter Trey Huber (Prosperity, S.C.) took a no-decision, giving up three runs in five innings
- Junior Tyler Zak (Dacula, Ga.) took the loss out of the bullpen to fall to 0-2 on the season
HOW IT HAPPENED
Innings 1-3
The Saints drew first blood with two outs in the top of the first on a solo blast by Allen to dead center – his 55
th career homerun – before Cornell made solid contact on the second pitch that he saw for a leadoff homer to left in the top of the second. Limestone would then extend the margin to 3-0 in the third inning.
With one out in the third, Creps laced a double into the leftfield gap before
Benjamin Huber chased him home a few batters later with a RBI base knock to right. The Bulldogs came through with some two-out magic in the bottom of the frame, recording four straight hits with two gone to cut the margin to 3-2.
Innings 4-6
Wingate scored again with two outs in the fourth, tying the game at 3-all, but it appeared that the Blue and Gold was primed to retake the lead after loading the bases with one out in the fifth. A double play ball ended the threat, but the Saints would move back in front, 5-3, with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.
Cornell hit his second homerun of the game, a blast to left field on the first pitch of the frame, before Limestone was able to push an unearned run across late in the inning. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Bulldogs touched up the bullpen for six runs on five hits to take the lead for good, 9-5.
Innings 7-9
The Saints cut the margin to 9-7 in the top of the seventh, capitalizing on back-to-back walks to start the stanza before O'Dell hit a booming two-run double into the gap in right-centerfield. Again, the momentum did not last long as Wingate scored five more runs in the home half to put the game out of reach, 14-7.
Freshman
Bryce Stavitski (Gaffney, S.C.) worked a leadoff walk in the eighth before Creps chased him home with his third triple of the season. Huber then pulled Limestone to within 14-9 with a two-out RBI single back up the middle, but the rally would end there as the Bulldogs struck out the side in the ninth.
TURNING POINT
With Limestone leading 5-3 after platting a pair in the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs strung together 11 runs off eight hits over the next two frames to complete the season sweep.
NOTABLES
- The Limestone bullpen gave up 11 runs on eight hits and four walks in two innings
- The offensive unit for the Saints struck out 14 times at the dish
- The Blue and Gold has struck out 10 or more times in a game 22 times this season
UP NEXT
With six conference games remaining, Limestone travels to face Southern Wesleyan University for a must-win series this weekend. First game is scheduled for Friday, April 12 at 4 p.m.
