JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the first time in the 2014 season, the Carson-Newman Eagles (20-24, 11-16 South Atlantic Conference) were swept in a three-game series by the Wingate Bulldogs (27-14, 19-7 SAC). Wingate took game one of the afternoon 4-0 before holding on to be Carson-Newman 7-5 in the second game Saturday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. 

"The cylinders have not all been in sync this year," head coach Tom Griffin said in retrospect. "In game one, we are pitching with them, but we can't get the hit we need. The next game we are playing catch-up." 

Wingate has now won 11 straight games in the series dating back to April 2, 2011. 

GAME ONE – Wingate 4  Carson-Newman 0 

For the second time all season, Carson-Newman was kept off of the scoreboard as the home club could only muster four hits in the first game. 

Eagle starter Quinton Yocom (Cable, Ohio) retired the first five batters of the game before designated hitter Tyler Simmons singled on the eighth pitch of his at-bat. Third basemen Blake Prince saw six pitches before looping a double down the right field line to bring home Simmons and make it a 1-0 lead for the visitors. 

It was still a 1-0 game until Wingate extended its edge in the top of the seventh inning. Simmons began the frame with a sharp single back up the middle. After shortstop Michael Godinez singled with one out, second basemen Shane Billings laid down a squeeze bunt up the third base line. Sophomore third basemen Brandon Roberts (Davie, Fla.) rushed a throw to the plate that one-hopped catcher J.D. Cowart (Athens, Tenn.) allowing Simmons to score. Back-to-back RBI singles from left fielder Justin Somers and right fielder Eric Serra made it a 4-0 game. 

Junior first basemen Evan Jurjevic (New Carlisle, Ind.) provided three of the four hits by going 3-for-4 notching his second three-hit game of the year. 

Yocom fell to 3-5 on the season after going 6.1 innings allowing four earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks. 

GAME TWO – Wingate 7  Carson-Newman 5 

Wingate did not waste any time in the second game as the Bulldogs put up four runs in the top of the first inning. Four consecutive hits started the frame with two runs scoring on a line drive single to right field by catcher Josh Clark that scored two runs. With two outs, designated hitter Bill Krebs singled into right field to make it a 3-0 game. A throwing error by Cowart allowed a fourth run to cross home. 

Junior right fielder Bo Ausmus (Jefferson City, Tenn.) ripped a single to center field to start the bottom of the second inning for the Eagles. Jurjevic continued his hot hitting with a laser double to the gap in left center field to plate the first run of the day for Carson-Newman. With two outs, junior centerfielder Evan Kirkpatrick (Jefferson City, Tenn.) smacked a single into center field to make it a 4-2 game. 

After Wingate tacked on a run in the third inning, Ausmus pulled the Eagles within a run as the junior drove a 2-2 pitch into the alley in right center field to score two runs pulling the home team within a 5-4 deficit. 

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning. With a runner at second base, Somers drove a 2-2 pitch into right center plating the sixth run of the game for Wingate. 

Carson-Newman once again pulled within a run in the bottom of the sixth frame. Three straight singles with two outs by the Eagles capped by a knock into right field by junior Cody Fox (Seymour, Tenn.) made it a 6-5 affair. 

Wingate loaded the bases with one out in the seventh and a hit batter allowed a run to cross the plate and extend the advantage to two runs. 

Ausmus collected his first four-hit game of his career going 4-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. 

Senior right-hander fired five innings of relief setting a career-high with six strikeouts while yielding six hits, two earned runs and two walks. 

Griffin's group is back in action on Wednesday with a trek scheduled to Belmont Abbey at 1 p.m.

- CN -