GREENWOOD – Jacob Karr sent a two-run homer over the left field in the first inning Wednesday night to lead the Wingate baseball team to an 8-5 non-conference victory over Lander at Legion Field.

Wingate improves to 12-9, while Lander, which suffered its first home loss of the season, moves to 13-9.

The Bulldogs’ Dusty White (2-1) was awarded the win after striking out four, walking one and allowing one earned run on one hit in 2.2 innings pitched.

Lander’s Brandon Farquhar (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season after striking out one and allowing five earned runs on five hits in 1.1 innings.

After Karr’s homer, Wingate extended its lead to 5-0 in the second inning when Chris Vazquez  and Logan Isaacs produced RBI singles and Karr’s fielder’s choice plated Ethan Strickland.

The Bearcats cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 5-1 in the second on Jordan Owens’ solo homer over the centerfield fence. Lander came back with two runs in the third when Owens’ RBI single to centerfield plated Bud Lanier and Robert Skinner scored on a fielder’s choice.

In the fourth, Wingate’s Ethan Strickland tripled, then scored on Isaacs’ RBI single to left field to make it 6-3.

Lander rallied in the sixth to cut the Wingate lead to one run as Owens’ two-RBI single sent Aaron Fludd and Alan Abreu home to make it 6-5.

Wingate extended its lead to 8-5 in the seventh when Karr walked, advanced to second on Dodson McPherson’s double, then both scored on back-to-back wild pitches.

For Lander, Owens batted 3-for-5 with four RBI.

For Wingate, Karr went 1-for-4 with three RBI, Strickland went 1-for-4 with one triple and Isaacs hit 3-for-5 with one double and three RBI.