Wingate, N.C. – The Wingate Baseball Team (25-17, 9-10) defeated Lenoir-Rhyne (29-14, 9-10) by a 7-3 score in the opening game Friday night of a South Atlantic Conference weekend series at Ron Christopher Stadium.

The Bulldogs' Bradley Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) hit two home runs and drove in three runs while Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) broke a two-all tie in the bottom of the third inning with the game-winning, two-run home run as well to lead Wingate to the victory.

Lenoir-Rhyne senior shortstop Matthew De La Rosa (Austin, Texas) hit his team-leading ninth home run of the year, a solo shot, in the losing effort.

The Bears scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third inning to tie the score at two before Krebs gave the Bulldogs the lead for good in their half of the frame.

Brown finished with three hits and three runs scored as well while Jordan Newsome (Matthews, N.C.) improved to 6-4 on the year after earning the win.  Newsome allowed two unearned run in six innings of work in addition to eight strikeouts as well.

For Lenoir-Rhyne, De La Rosa and freshman outfielder Justin Dean (Mauldin, S.C.) both finished with a pair of hits while sophomore Austin Hancock (Defiance, Ohio) fell to 5-2 after taking the loss.

The two teams will wrap up the league weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m.