NCBWA TOP 25

Pembroke, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs cracked the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) top 25 poll for the first time this season, checking in at number 25 in this week's rankings. The SAC Tournament champions are 30-12 overall, while ranking fifth in this week's NCBWA Southeast Region poll.

The Bulldogs have been one of the hottest teams in the region, winning seven of their last eight, culminating with the SAC Tournament title. Wingate has won 24 of its last 30 games, which includes victories over #12 Mount Olive, #17 Catawba and #22 UNC Pembroke. The 'Dogs went 20-10 in league play, then went 4-1 in the SAC Tournament to claim their third tourney title in the last 10 years and seventh all-time, while also earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Wingate has gotten it done with a balanced attack, with the pitching staff ranking third in the SAC in team ERA and the offense ranking third in runs scored. The offense has been hot as of late, scoring at least eight runs eight of the last nine games, hitting double figures five times including a 22-run outburst at Anderson and a 13-run performance against Newberry in the SAC title game.

The balanced offensive attack has six regular starters hitting over .320, while seven different Bulldogs have driven in over 20 runs. Carson Simpson leads the team with a .333 average, driving in 27 and scoring 28, earning Region Player of the Week honors for his efforts in the SAC Tournament. McCann Mellett is hitting .329 with a team-best nine homers and is tied for the team lead with 13 doubles and 38 RBI, scoring a team-high 48 runs, ranking in the top 20 nationally in walks and runs scored, while ranking in the top 10 in the SAC in nine different categories.

Logan McNeely is tied with Mellett for the team lead in doubles and RBI, hitting .328 on the year. Michael Dansky is hitting .327 with six homers, five doubles, 23 RBI and 30 runs. Jed Bryant has seven homers, eight doubles and 38 RBI, scoring 35 runs. Hunter Dula has five homers, 28 RBI and 28 runs scored, stealing 13 bases in 13 attempts. Gehrig Christopher is hitting .325 on the season with six doubles and two homers.

Dula is a second team All-SAC starting pitcher, going 6-1 with a 2.61 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 51 innings, with opponents hitting just .206 against while throwing a league-best four complete games. The SAC Tournament MVP is third in the SAC in strikeouts, fourth in wins and sixth in ERA. David Nash has also picked up six wins on the year, starting a team-high 10 games. Mac Callari has a 3.76 ERA in 12 appearances including six starts. Austin Mitchell's 3-1 record includes a complete-game effort on championship Monday. Mitch Farris has picked up a pair of wins, making five starts and 10 relief appearances.

First team All-SAC honoree Brody McCullough has anchored the bullpen, while also making three starts. The three-time SAC and Region Pitcher of the Week is 5-2 with a 1.86 ERA in 16 appearances, piling up 60 strikeouts in 48 innings of work while holding opponents to a .201 average, adding three saves on the year. He leads the SAC in ERA, raking third in strikeouts per nine innings, fifth in total strikeouts and sixth in saves.

Sam Broderson has been huge out of the bullpen in his first season at Wingate, going 2-1 in 14 appearances with a 2.61 ERA, piling up 29 strikeouts in 20 innings with opponents hitting just .192 against him. Austin Johnson has 13 appearances, picking up a save with a 3.94 ERA in 16 innings with 18 strikeouts.

Wingate will learn in postseason future May 23 when the NCAA Division II bracket is revealed on NCAA.com. The Bulldogs will be making their seventh NCAA Tournament in program history and fourth in the last 10 years.