WINGATE, NC – Wingate University center fielder Thomas Spitz scored from first base on a bunt single by Brian Yeung in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 non-conference win over Francis Marion University, Wednesday evening (March 27) in baseball action.
Francis Marion (14-11) will open a three-game Peach Belt Conference series against Armstrong Atlantic State University, Friday evening at 7 p.m. on Make-A-Wish Night.
In the bottom of the ninth, Spitz reached base on a one-out error. Yeung then bunted to third base and beat the throw to the first base bag. Spitz advanced to second and continued around to third, getting in safely on a close play. Yeung took second on the throw to third and drew a throw to the second base bag. Spitz then went home as no Patriot covered the plate. FMU catcher Will Chandler tried to get back to the plate, but couldn't make the tag.
The sequence ruined a ninth-inning come-back by FMU. Trailing 2-1 and down to the final two outs, sophomore second baseman Brett Fulmer singled to left field. Senior center fielder Jarrod Reed reached on a fielder's choice grounder to second and Fulmore advanced around to third base as the grounder was misplayed. Senior third baseman Stephen Tarkenton plated the tying run (Fulmore) with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Both Reed and Fulmore registered two hits on Wednesday and both extended hitting streaks to 10 and eight games respectively.
Junior reliever Brandon Stoots (0-2), the fourth of four Patriot hurlers, was tagged with the loss. The FMU pitchers held the Bulldogs to seven hits, but four walks and four Patriot errors helped aid the Bulldog cause.
Wingate reliever Joshua Karr (3-2) was the beneficiary of the walk-off victory.
FMU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Reed led off with a single up the middle, stole second, and took third on a sacrifice bunt, before scoring on an RBI ground out by junior left fielder Michael Wilson.
However, Wingate (23-13) answered with a single run, albeit unearned, in the bottom of the first. The Bulldogs took a 2-1 advantage with another unearned tally in the seventh inning.
Wingate 3, Francis Marion 2 (Mar 27, 2013 at Wingate, N.C.)
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Francis Marion...... 100 000 001 - 2 8 4 (14-11)
Wingate............. 100 000 101 - 3 7 1 (23-13)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Daniel Barfield; Justin Turbeville(5); Jeffrey Stoner(7);
Brandon Stoots(8) and Will Chandler. Wingate - G. McCoury; B. Parsley(6); Joshua Karr(8) and Josh Clark.
Win-Joshua Karr(3-2) Loss-Brandon Stoots(0-2) T-2:46 A-103
Barfield faced 1 batter in the 5th; Turbeville faced 2 batters in the 7th.
