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Salisbury, N.C.----Wingate University junior right-hander Olen Little (Charlotte, N.C.) tossed a three-hit shutout in game Sunday afternoon, helping the Bulldogs split a South Atlantic Conference baseball doubleheader at third-ranked Catawba College. Wingate won game one 4-0, while the Indians took game two 5-2. The Bulldogs move to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the SAC, while Catawba moves to 10-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

Game One: Wingate 4, Catawba 0

Sophomore outfielder Michael Benitez (Miami, Fla.) was one-for-three with an RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Sophomore infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) added an RBI and a run scored, while junior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami Fla.) also drove in a run.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the fourth. Redshirt senior infielder Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) led off the inning with a single, then stole second. He scored on an RBI single from Prince, who went to second on the throw home. Prince would score on an RBI single from Benitez to make it 2-0.

With one out in the fifth, sophomore outfielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) reached second on a two-base throwing error by Catawba. He would score on Serra’s RBI single to put Wingate on top by three.

Sophomore first baseman Brad Cherry (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) drew a one-out walk in the sixth, then stole second. He went to third when sophomore infielder Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) reached on an error. Godinez would the steal second, with Cherry scoring from third on the throw to make it 4-0.

That would be plenty for Little, who needed only 98 pitches to improve to 3-0 on the season. The preseason All-SAC selection did not allow a hit until a one-out double from Garrett Furr in the fourth. He got out of the inning with a strikeout and a flyout. After setting the Indians down in order in the fifth, Catawba threatened in the sixth, getting runners on second and third with one out. Little struck out Furr, while inducing an inning-ending flyout to get out of the jam.

Little struck out five while walking two on the afternoon. He has gone at least six innings in all three starts this year, allowing less than three earned runs in all three appearances. Little has allowed just 13 hits in 19 innings of work this year. John Tuttle took the loss for Catawba, falling to 2-1. He allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits in six innings of work, striking out eight.

Game Two: Catawba 5, Wingate 2

Chris Dula was one-for-three with a homer and two RBI to lead the Catawba offense. Paul Kronenfeld was one-for-two with a double, RBI and a run scored, while Furr also had a double and an RBI. Julio Zubillaga was two-for-three with a double and a run scored for the Indians.

Cherry was two-for-three with a homer to lead the Wingate attack. Spitz went three-for-four in game two for the Bulldogs.

It was Wingate threatening to score first in the second, loading the bases with one out via a hit batsman, walk and single. The rally came to an end with a double play, leaving the Bulldogs off the board. Catawba responded with a run in the bottom of the frame on a two-out RBI double from Cameron Cockman.

A single and an error put two on for the Bulldogs in the third with one out, but once again the inning ended with a double play. Wingate used back-to-back one out singles in the fifth to get a pair of runners on, but a strikeout and popout ended the threat.

Catawba put up four runs in the fifth to push the advantage to five. Kronenfeld started it with an RBI double, then scored on Furr’s RBI double to make it 3-0. Dula followed with a two-run homer to put the Indians on top by five.

Wingate got on the board in the seventh when Cherry led off the frame with his second homer of the year, a solo shot to left. Freshman pinch hitter Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) followed by drawing a walk, then went to second on a Spitz single. Yeung drove him in to make the final margin 5-2.

Ross Whitley got the win for Catawba, improving to 2-0. He allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings of work, striking out four. Ryan McClintock got the final out of the game to earn his first save. Junior right-hander Stephen Vaughan (Wilmington, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 1-2. He allowed three runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out five.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, hosting North Greenville at 3:30 p.m. Wingate’s three-game home series against Lenoir-Rhyne will begin Friday at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs and Bears meet for a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. Catawba travels to Newberry for a three-game series next weekend, starting Friday night at 6 p.m.