WINGATE, N.C. --- Nick Lacina homered twice while Ethan Carpenter pitched a three-hit complete game in Tusculum's 8-1 South Atlantic Conference win at Wingate Friday night at Ron Christopher Stadium.
Lacina went 2-for-4 in the game with three RBI and three runs scored to go along with his fourth and fifth home runs of the season. Freshman Daulton Martin led all players with his 3-for-4 effort, including a double, a home run and three RBI.
Carpenter (6-3) was masterful throughout the evening blanking the Bulldogs (17-29, 8-14 SAC) through the first 6 2/3 innings before surrendering a solo home run to Austin Turgeon in the bottom of the seventh. He recorded a career-best 11 strikeouts with only one walk in his 125-pitch performance.
Tusculum (27-15, 14-8 SAC) got on the board first in the second inning thanks to a two-out RBI single by Dante Key. TC scored two more runs in the third as the visitors took advantage of a Wingate error and a two-out double from Martin for a 3-0 lead.
Tusculum stretched its advantage to 5-0 in the fifth when John Topoleski singled and scored on Lacina's first round-tripper of the game, a two-run blast to right field.
TC put the game out of reach in the seventh when Lacina crushed a solo blast to right. Bradley Evans followed with a single and he scampered home on Martin's second home run of the year, a two-run shot to left field.
Carpenter records his 21st victory of his career, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the program's all-time pitching wins list. It was his third complete game of the season and fifth of his career.
Carpenter also moved into sole possession of second place on Tusculum's career strikeout list. His 223 strikeouts moves him past TC Sports Hall of Famer Ken Hughes (218, 1991-1994).
The Pioneers finished the game with 11 hits, including two-hit performances from Evans and Cole Baxley.
The two teams will wrap up the three-game weekend series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
