WINGATE – Sixteenth-ranked UNC Pembroke clubbed three home runs in the first four innings and climbed on the back of its bullpen the rest of the way out as the Braves extended their win streak out to eight games with an 11-7 victory over Wingate on Tuesday evening at Ron Christopher Stadium.

Zade Denton doubled, homered and drove in a career-best five runs on a 3-for-5 outing for the Braves (25-7) who have now won 19 of the last 21 contests in the series with their U.S. 74 rivals. Christian Snider homered and drove in a pair on a 3-for-5 showing for the Black & Gold as well, while Drew Beaver homered to highlight a 2-for-5 night at the plate.

Wingate (21-13), who boasted an NCAA-best 53 home runs heading into the contest, got four-baggers from Bill Krebs (2-for-4), Shane Billings (1-for-4) and Bradley Brown (1-for-3). Tuesday's setback marked the first nonconference loss of the season for the Bulldogs.

Alex Britt (4-1) struck out five and surrendered just two hits in 4-1/3 innings of relief to grab the win for the Braves, while Logan Cook did not allow a run in registering the final four outs of the game to notch his first career save. Starter Jordan Newsome (2-1) allowed nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits and four walks to take the loss for the Bulldogs. He also struck out three.

Denton's grand slam with one out in the top of the first gave the Braves the early momentum, but UNCP padded its advantage out to five runs, 7-2, after Beaver's 2-run homer in the fourth. Wingate cut into its deficit with Brown's 2-run homer in the bottom of the frame, but the Braves added four more scores in the fourth, including a 2-run blast by Snider.

Wingate would tack up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, but that would signal the end of the scoring on the night.

The Braves will continue their five-game road trip this weekend when they head to southwest South Carolina to battle USC Aiken (21-11, 11-10 PBC) in an Easter weekend series at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The squads will open up the set with a 7 p.m. contest on Friday, before closing out the series on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.