WINGATE, N.C. - Newberry baseball hit the road for the opening game of the 2026 SAC Baseball Championship. The Wolves faced off with the host, Wingate, with a chance to advance in the bracket. What started as a low-scoring affair early turned into an extra-innings thriller, which ultimately saw the Bulldogs come out on top, 7-6. 

Wingate struck first in the second inning and held Newberry at bay for the first four innings of the game, but then in the top of the fifth, Finn McLaughlin got the Wolves on the board with a three-run shot to right field to put Newberry ahead, 3-1.

The Bulldogs tried to fight back, however Zane McLendon knocked the team's second home run of the day, cranking one over the left center field wall to pull ahead, 4-2. 

Wingate responded well and would go ahead to take a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, however the Wolves remained resilient, as Nick Foster joined the home run party with the team's dinger of the day; a solo shot to tie the game at five and ultimately send the game into extra innings. 

McLaughlin's hot bat continued to shine, as he put the Wolves ahead once again with his second home run of the day as he cleared the right field wall to make the game 6-5.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th inning, and used a pair of sacrifice flies to tie and eventually win the game. 

Newberry now falls to the loser's bracket and will face off with No. 6 Carson-Newman on Sunday, May 3 at 5PM.