NEWBERRY, S.C. � Wingate�s three-run eighth inning cemented a 5-0 college baseball victory over host Newberry College Thursday afternoon at Kirkland Field. The Bulldogs (5-17) capitalized on four hits, highlighted by a Josh Benton (Gold Hill, N.C.) RBI double, and a Newberry (5-7) error to put the game out of reach.

Wingate outfielder Andrew Connor (Randleman, N.C.) singled to right field, scoring Andrew Brockington (Florence, S.C.), to give the Dogs an early 1-0 lead in the first. Wingate added another in the sixth when Jon Svanda (Chesterfield, Va.) singled, then moved around the bases on an error and a wild pitch. With runners in scoring position, Kirk Matthews (East Bend, N.C.) hit a ball hard to third, and the only play available was to putout the batter, allowing Svanda to score off Matthews� RBI.

Wingate�s bats blazed in the eight to add to the 2-0 lead. David Yount (Forest City, N.C.), Brandon Wright (Dallas, N.C.), Tim Bowman (Low Gap, N.C.), and Benton all solved Newberry reliever Patrick Egleston�s (Columbia, S.C.) pitches to drive in three runs.

The starters got the decisions: Ryan DeFaber (Charlotte, N.C.) won his first game and evened his season record, while Brent Rembert (Sumter, S.C.) dropped his first decision of 2004.

The Indians had eight safeties on the day, but could string together no more than two hits in a single inning and advanced runners to third only in the sixth and eighth frames. Designated hitter Gilmore Stevens (Edgefield, S.C.) was the most efficient, reaching base every time with a walk and two-for-two hitting. Jeremy Harris (Pomaria, S.C.) and Stuart Kay (Greer, S.C.) turned in two-for-three performances. Bowman, Yount, and Connor each collected a pair of hits for Wingate.

Newberry opens conference play this weekend with a three-game series against Lenoir-Rhyne. The first pitch at Kirkland Field will be Saturday at 2 p.m. Wingate will play those same Bears from LRC next Wednesday.