WINGATE, N.C. --- Jake Courville went 6-for-8 with five RBI on the day, while Connor Longley pitched a four-hit shutout in the series finale as the Wingate Bulldogs swept a South Atlantic Conference baseball doubleheader over visiting Tusculum Saturday at Ron Christopher Stadium.
In the first game, Jalen Evans' two-run double in the fifth inning broke a 4-4 tie as the Bulldogs won the first game 9-6. Longley tossed seven shutout innings allowing zero walks and struck out five as Wingate completed the series sweep with an 11-0 victory.
Wingate improves to 14-4 on the season and 7-2 in league play while the Pioneers slip to 5-12 overall and 1-8 in the SAC. The Bulldogs record their eighth straight win, while TU remains winless on the road this year (0-8).
Game 1: Wingate 9, Tusculum 6
Wingate pounded out a dozen hits including three doubles and two home runs as the Bulldogs posted a 9-6 win.
Courville and Ben Karpowicz recorded three hits apiece, while Evans went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a pair of walks.
Tusculum recorded 14 hits in the contest as Caden Rector went 3-for-5, while Ryan Ortega, Kolby Watson, Evan Goins and Jake Smith each had two-hit performances.
Jett Thomas (1-0) picked up the victory in relief while Parker Jensen recorded a three-inning save, his second of the year.
Tusculum starter Walker Pedante (1-2) suffered the loss as he went 4.1 innings.
Game 2: Wingate 11, Tusculum 0
Longley (3-1) tossed a 92-pitch masterpiece as Wingate prevailed 11-0 for its second shutout of the weekend.
The Bulldogs scored four times in the first inning, three times in the second, once in the fifth and plated four more runs in the sixth.
Courville went 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Bradley Hart and Evans each went 2-for-2 with two RBI apiece.
Tusculum got base hits from Landon Dockery, Alejandro Ponte, Rector and Smith.
TU starter Brice Anders (2-3) went 2.1 innings, while Aiden Sproles went 2.2 innings, allowed one run on one hit, walked one and recorded three strikeouts.
The Pioneers return home on Tuesday for a non-conference game against King University beginning at 5 p.m. at Eastman Credit Union Field & Pioneer Park.
