Wingate Wins 2021 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, Advances to DII National Finals

VIDEO: Final Out/Dogpile | VIDEO: Jeff Gregory Interview | VIDEO: Logan McNeely Interview
VIDEO: McCann Mellett Interview | VIDEO: Austin Mitchell Interview
 
Tigerville, S.C.----The third-seeded and 16th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs scored two runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth Sunday afternoon, rallying for a 4-2 victory over Columbus State University to capture the 2021 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional baseball championship. Wingate improves to 34-12 overall, capturing the first NCAA Division II region title in program history while also earning its first-ever trip to the Division II College World Series. Columbus State ends its season at 31-16.

KEY STATS

- Wingate out-hit Columbus State 7-5
- The 'Dogs had two of the three extra-base hits; each team had a homer
- The Cougars left seven on base; the Bulldogs stranded five
- Neither team committed an error
- CSU pitching struck out 12 and walked one; WU had three strikeouts and five walks
- Columbus State had the lone stolen base of the day
- Wingate held CSU scoreless the last six frames
- The Cougars did not have a hit over the final five frames

KEY BULLDOGS

- Jed Bryant homered for the Bulldogs
- Carson Simpson added a hit and two RBI
- Logan McNeely went two-for-three with a double, RBI and run scored
- Hunter Dula and McCann Mellett each added a hit and a run scored
- Austin Mitchell went seven strong innings to earn the win
- Brody McCullough worked the final two innings to earn the save

NOTES

- Wingate is making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance
- Fourth appearance since 2011
- First-ever NCAA Division II region title
- First time ever advancing to the D2 World Series
- The 'Dogs appeared in the NJCAA World Series three times (1964, 1965 & 1966)
- WU moves to 3-1 all-time against Columbus State
- Wingate went unbeaten in the Southeast Regional
- The 'Dogs outscored opponents 40-17 in the Regional
- The 'Dogs opened region play by outscoring three top-20 teams 36-15
- Wingate has now won 11 of its last 12, outscoring opponents 131-42
- WU is 8-1 in postseason play, outscoring the opposition 83-37
- McNeely has six hits including four extra-base hits and five RBI his last three games
- Mellett is 14-for-24 his last six games with four homers, 14 RBI and 13 runs scored
- Bryant had a double, triple and a homer over the final two games of the regional
- 12-game hitting streak for Simpson; 11-for-24 with 11 RBI his last seven games
- Mitchell has gone 16 innings his last two starts, allowing just four runs
- He notched a complete-game win on championship Monday of the SAC Tournament in April
- The All-Region honoree McCullough earned the save after notching a win in Friday's game
- Only the fourth time this season the Cougars have had two or fewer runs in a game
- The five hits for CSU tied a season low
- The PBC Tourney champs entered the game having won seven of their last eight

SECOND INNING

- Bryant got Wingate on the board with a solo shot to left, his eighth of the year to make it 1-0
- An RBI single from Connor Kirley in the bottom of the frame tied it at one

THIRD INNING

- Colby Brabston led off the frame with a solo shot to right center to give CSU a 2-1 lead
- That was the last run of the day for the Cougars

SEVENTH INNING

- The Bryant homer was the only hit for WU through six, but the bats came alive in the seventh
- McNeely started it with a leadoff single, while Dula added a two-out single
- Andrew McKay followed with another two-out single to load the bases for Simpson
- He delivered a clutch two-run single to center to plate McNeely and Dula to put the 'Dogs on top

EIGHTH INNING

- Mellett led off the eighth with a single, then moved to second on a wild pitch
- He went to third on a Michael Dansky sacrifice bunt
- McNeely ripped an RBI double to right center to give the Bulldogs a two-run lead

NINTH INNING

- Columbus State drew a leadoff walk, but Wingate followed by turning a 4-6-3 double play
- Justin Guy made a leaping catch in center to end the game and give WU the region title

WRAPUP

- Mitchell got the win, moving to 4-1 on the year
- He allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out two and walking four
- Mitchell blanked the high-powered CSU offense in his final four innings of work
- He retired the final eight batters he faced on the day
- McCullough worked two shutout innings to notch his fourth save
- He did not allow a hit, while striking out one and walking one
- Jamie Boatwright took the loss, falling to 3-1
- He allowed three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking one

UP NEXT

- The Bulldogs are onto Cary, N.C. for the NCAA Division II World Series
- Wingate is one of the final eight teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament
- The College World Series will take place June 5-12 in Cary
- The World Series seedings will be announced this week