The Wingate University baseball team celebrated Senior Day with an NCAA Division II doubleheader sweep over Belmont Abbey College Saturday at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field on the Wingate campus. The Bulldogs won the first game 14-7 and the second game 4-1.

With the two victories, Wingate improves to 26-32 overall. Belmont Abbey falls to 31-22 overall. The Bulldogs and the Crusaders will venture to Belmont Sunday for a 2 p.m. single game.

Game #1 - Wingate 14, Belmont Abbey 7

The Bulldogs equaled their season-high for runs in Saturday's opener. Seven Wingate starters had two or more hits, led by senior second baseman Shaughn Neal (Matthews, N.C.). The East Mecklenburg High School graduate was three-for-five with a double and three RBI. Neal was one of four Bulldogs seniors playing their last regular season home game Saturday.

After spotting Belmont Abbey a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Wingate answered with five runs in the bottom of the opening frame to take a lead they would not relinquish. The Bulldogs scored five runs on six hits in the first inning, sending nine batters to the plate. Freshman outfielder Spencer Robinson (Bessemer City, N.C.) contributed a two-RBI single in the first inning.

Wingate pushed its advantage to 9-2 with a four-run sixth inning. Freshman third baseman Logan Beasley (Staley, N.C.) had a big hit with a two-RBI single. The Bulldogs had four runs on five hits in the sixth inning.

Neal had a two-RBI double as Wingate plated three runs in the seventh inning to take a 12-2 lead. Belmont Abbey responded with five runs in the top of the eighth inning to cut Wingate's lead to 12-7. Crusader senior shortstop Josh Haire (Mooresville, N.C.) clubbed a grand slam in the eighth inning, his ninth home run of the season.

Bulldog senior designated hitter Josh Benton (Gold Hill, N.C.) joined Neal in the three-hit club. The first team All-South Atlantic Conference selection was three-for-five with two RBI. Neal had three RBI, while Benton and four Bulldog teammates plated two runs each. Senior catcher Tim Cottrell (Oxford, N.C.) was two-for-four with two RBI.

Wingate freshman right-hander Tyler Almond (Oakboro, N.C.) finished a solid first campaign with a victory. Almond (5-3 overall) pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on five hits. The West Stanly product struck out four and walked none.

Belmont Abbey junior Andy Helms (Locust, N.C.) took the loss for the Crusaders. A high school teammate of Tyler Almond, Helms gave up nine runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. Helms struck out five and walked one.

Game #2 - Wingate 4, Belmont Abbey 1

The Bulldogs posted three runs in the third inning and made the lead stick to take the twin bill sweep. Shaughn Neal, sophomore catcher Blair Troutman (Concord, N.C.) and Josh Benton contributed back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles in the third frame to help the hosts take an early 3-0 lead.

Neal had another big game for the Bulldogs, posting a perfect two-for-two ledger with a double and one RBI. The All-SAC tournament pick also tallied a stolen base in the nightcap. Six Wingate players had one hit each to support Neal's efforts.

Belmont Abbey cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning, thanks to an RBI double by junior first baseman Seth Waller (Salisbury, N.C.). Waller has a team-high 23 doubles for the Crusaders. Josh Haire was the only Belmont Abbey player with more than one hit in the second game, picking up two hits in three game two at-bats. Haire also stroked a double in the nightcap.

Wingate sophomore righty Richard Allred (Snow Camp, N.C.) provided the Bulldogs with another solid starting performance. In six complete innings, Allred permitted one run on four hits. He struck out five and walked two. Belmont Abbey sophomore left-hander Brett DiPasquale (Kingsville, Md.) took the loss. In 5 1/3 innings, DiPasquale gave up four runs on eight hits. He struck out one and walked two.