The Wingate baseball team scored a run in the top of the ninth to break a 2-2 tie and held off a late Abbey run as it loaded the bases with two outs but did not score as the Bulldogs claimed a 3-2 win over Belmont Abbey this afternoon at Abbey Yard. The win moves the Wingate record to 7-2, while the Abbey falls to 7-4.

Wingate starting pitcher Justin Nygard held the Abbey hitless until the fifth inning and was staked to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Chris Vazquez singled up the middle, stole second and scored on Dodson McPherson's towering double off the top of the wall in right center.

Nygard kept the Abbey offense in check for the first four and a third innings, striking out four until the Crusaders struck for two runs on two hits in the fifth. Kyle Buchanan drew a one out walk and moved to second on a single up the middle by Emilio Pagan. Gabby Amor plated both men with a stinging double down the leftfield line to put the Abbey ahead 2-1.

The Crusaders threatened again in the sixth inning but could not capitalize. Justin Vasquez opened the inning with a double off of reliever Olen Little. After a flyout, Stephen Mullis moved him to third with a groundout. Joey Frabasile then worked a walk to put runners on first and third with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning.

Wingate tied the game in the top of the seventh. Casey Allison struck out but reached first on a wild pitch. Jason Hunter singled him to second and Josh Clark brought him home with a single up the middle to knot the game at two. After a pitching change, a double play and a strikeout avoided further damage as the score remained tied at two.

The Crusaders went scoreless in the eighth and Wingate pushed across the winning run in the ninth. Jacob Karr worked a leadoff walk and Allison sacrificed him to second. After a pitching change, Hunter smoked a single to center, scoring Karr for the go-ahead run.

Belmont Abbey made noise in the top of the ninth. With one out, Buchanan and Pagan slapped back-to-back singles. Karr came in from third base to pitch, and Michael Vargas came in to run for Buchanan and Dan Brion came in to hit for John Cucchiarella. After Brion flew out to center, Ian Vazquez loaded the bases with an infield single to the pitcher, but the game ended on a strikeout as Wingate held on.

Stephen Vaughan was credited with the win in two and one-thirds innings of scoreless work, surrendering three hits and striking out two. James White took the loss after allowing the winning run to score. He did not give up a hit, but struck out three and walked one in two and one-thirds innings. Karr earned the save as he worked the final two-thirds of an inning, giving up one hit and striking out one. Nygard allowed just two runs on two hits in five innings, fanning four and walking three. Abbey starter Paul Stelling gave up two runs on seven hits in seven innings, striking out three.

The Crusaders finished with seven hits as Pagan led the way with two. Five other players had one each. Amor drove in both runs.