WINGATE, N.C. – Anderson University baseball split a Saturday doubleheader at Wingate, knocking off the Bulldogs 12-8 in a closing contest after dropping the opener 14-2. The split left the Trojans at 24-25 overall and 11-22 in South Atlantic Conference play.
GAME ONE: Wingate 14, Anderson 2
The Trojans jumped on the board quickly in the nightcap, taking a 2-0 lead through two innings. In the first, Harrison (Spartanburg, S.C.) doubled down the right field line and came around to score on an RBI single by Denton (Brentwood, Tenn.). Anderson added another run in the second when Brooks Mauro (Clemson, S.C.) scored on a Stover (Powdersville, S.C.) groundout.
Wingate responded with three runs in the third and six more in the fourth to seize control. A two-run home run by Reed Benamati, a Karpowicz RBI double, and a sacrifice fly by Jake Courville highlighted the Bulldogs' big fourth, and Wingate never looked back. The hosts tacked on three in the fifth and two more in the sixth to reach 14.
Anderson managed just four hits on the afternoon. Harrison's first-inning double and Denton's RBI single accounted for the early offense, while Dom Bello (Orlando, Fla.) and Stover each added a hit. The Trojans were held scoreless over the final five innings by Wingate starter JD Little, who worked six innings and struck out six while allowing just three hits.
Cole Davis (Simpsonville, S.C.) started on the mound and was tagged for nine runs in 3.1 innings, falling to 2-7 on the season. Jace Martin (Prosperity, S.C.), Aidan Bumgardner (Indian Trail, N.C.), Ashton Shackelford (Ellerslie, Ga.), and George Massingill (Greenville, S.C.) each worked in relief, with Massingill providing the lone clean inning of the game, retiring all three batters he faced while striking out two.
GAME TWO: Anderson 12, Wingate 8
The Trojans came out swinging in the top of the first, sending five batters to the plate before recording an out. Braeden Harrison (Spartanburg, S.C.) singled and Myles Denton (Brentwood, Tenn.) doubled to put two runners in scoring position, and Levi Medford (Canton, N.C.) delivered a two-run single up the middle to plate both. Zach Stover (Powdersville, S.C.) then singled to center to score Medford and give Anderson a 3-0 lead before the Bulldogs had come to bat.
The Black and Gold continued to add on throughout the game. A Stover RBI double in the third extended the advantage to 4-0, and the Trojans broke the game open in the fourth when Medford singled home Riley Matthews (Waxhaw, N.C.) and Gray Wells (Chapin, S.C.) followed with a two-run home run to right field to push the lead to 7-2. The sixth inning proved to be the decisive frame, as Anderson plated five runs. Harrison led off with a solo home run to left and Denton immediately followed with another solo shot down the left field line to make it 9-8. Ryan Iannuzzo (Hicksville, N.Y.) then drove in two with a single to right field, and Bryce Helms (Kershaw, S.C.) added an RBI single up the middle to cap the five-run outburst and put Anderson ahead 12-8 for good.
Stover was the offensive catalyst, going 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and a stolen base. Wells finished 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while Medford went 2-for-5 with three RBI. Harrison contributed two hits and an RBI, and Denton added a double, a home run, and an RBI. Iannuzzo went 1-for-4 with two RBI and Helms contributed an RBI single.
On the mound, starter Kaleb Owens (Easley, S.C.) worked four innings but was charged with eight runs as Wingate stayed within striking distance. Luke Godwin (Greenwood, S.C.) then came on in relief and was lights-out, shutting the door over the final three innings. Godwin allowed just four hits and no runs while striking out two to earn his fourth win of the season, improving to 4-1.
The Trojans will close their 2026 campaign with a trip to Augusta, Ga. to take on the Jaguars in a non-conference matchup.
