Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University graduate student second baseman McCann Mellett has been named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference baseball Player of the Week, while redshirt sophomore right-hander Brody McCullough is the SAC Pitcher of the Week, league officials announced Tuesday morning. Mellett earns Player of the Week honors for the first time this season and third time in his career, while McCullough earns Pitcher of the Week accolades for the second time this year.

The duo helped lead the Bulldogs to an impressive 5-0 week that started with an 8-2 win over #8 Mount Olive on Wednesday. Wingate then swept a four-game SAC series against a Carson-Newman team that entered the weekend 10-2 in league play. The 'Dogs outscored the Eagles 37-19 over the weekend.

Mellett was nearly perfect in the four-game sweep, going 11-for-13 at the plate with three homers, four doubles, seven RBI and nine runs scored. He also drew two walks and was hit by a pitch twice, reaching base in 15 of 17 plate appearances in the four games to post an incredible .882 on-base percentage.

Mellett kicked off his huge weekend with a three-for-three effort Friday afternoon, blasting a pair of homers, driving in four runs and scoring three times in the 12-7 win. He homered again in game two of the doubleheader while once again going three-for-three, driving in three more runs while adding a double and three runs scored. Mellett was three-for-three for the third straight game on Saturday, collecting two doubles and scoring a run. He capped his week by going two-for-four with a double and 2 more runs scored as the 'Dogs finished off the sweep with a 10-3 win.

McCullough continued his dominant stretch by picking up two wins on the week without allowing a run. He tossed 10 2/3 shutout innings in his two appearances, allowing just three singles while striking out nine and walking just one.

McCullough got the start Wednesday night against #8 Mount Olive and tossed five shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out five. He was back on the mound just three days later, going 5 2/3 innings in relief against Carson-Newman, striking out four while allowing just two hits.

Mellett raised his season average nearly 100 points over the weekend. He is now hitting .357 with six homers, 10 doubles, 25 RBI and 26 runs scored, leading the team in doubles, RBI, runs scored and on-base percentage while in a tie for the lead in homers. McCullough has seven straight scoreless outings, going 21 1/3 innings without allowing a run, striking out 27 while allowing just 11 hits. He ranks second in the SAC with a 1.32 ERA on the year, posting a 4-1 record.

Wingate is back in action Tuesday, hosting Belmont Abbey at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs are at Lenoir-Rhyne for a four-game series this weekend, with doubleheaders Friday and Saturday.
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 13 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 115 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 124 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.