Wingate, N.C.----The Catawba College Indians scored a run in the ninth to keep the game alive, then plated the game-winner in the top of the 11th, defeating Wingate University 7-6 in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Saturday. The Game was started Friday night, but halted due to rain with two outs in the top of the eighth. Catawba improves to 18-6 overall and 5-5 in the SAC. The Bulldogs fall to 10-7 on the season and 7-3 in the conference.

Freshman designated hitter Garrett Furr (Gold Hill, N.C.) led the Catawba attack, going three-for-six with a double, homer, three RBI and two runs scored. Senior infielder Craige Lyerly (Salisbury, N.C.) went three-for-six with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored while senior outfielder Wade Moore (Salisbury N.C.) was three-for-five with a run scored.

Senior infielder Logan Isaacs (Raleigh, N.C.) had a homer, two RBI and two runs scored for the Bulldogs, while sophomore outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) added a double, RBI and a run scored.

After Catawba stranded two runners in the top of the first, Indian pitcher Trevor Mullins (Jamestown, N.C.) got Allison to strike out, but Allison advanced due to an error. Isaacs would make Catawba pay for the error by belting a two-run home run to right-center field to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. The home run was Isaacs’ fourth of the season.

Catawba would cut the Bulldog advantage to one in the top of the third as Lyerly hit a double to drive home Moore. Lyerly would record the final out of the inning as he was thrown out trying to advance to third base by Wingate junior catcher Taylor Honeycutt (Indian Trail, N.C.).

Wingate would build upon its lead in the bottom half of the inning. Honeycutt got it started with a walk. Allison and Isaacs followed by reaching on errors. Honeycutt scored on the second error, but Allison was thrown out at the plate by Indian right fielder John Carroll Neese (Summerfield, N.C.). Isaacs would later score on a double by sophomore infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) to push the Bulldog advantage to 4-1.

Catawba tied the game in the fourth on a three-run homer from Furr. He would add one-out triple in the top of the sixth, then score the tie-breaking run on Corey Parker’s sixth double of the season.

Trailing by two in the eighth inning on Saturday, sophomore shortstop Chris Vazquez lined a double to left center field. Junior pinch-hitter Tres Ramirez (Ocala, Fla.) followed with an RBI single to tie the game at five. Wingate took the lead on an RBI double from Allison, plating pinch-runner Jerome Henley (Carrboro, N.C.) from first base.

Catawba loaded the bases in the ninth on a single and two hit batsman. Pinch-hitter Brett Hatley (Salisbury, N.C.) drew a two-out, bases loaded walk to tie the game at six.

The Catawba Indians would score the game-winner in the top of the 11th, with sophomore outfielder Ryan Bostian (Kannapolis, N.C.) scoring on an RBI single from sophomore infielder Brett Underwood (Greensboro, N.C.).

Sophomore Wil Huneycutt (Locust, N.C.) got the win, improving to 3-1 on the season. He allowed two runs on three hits in four innings of work while striking out one. Senior Lee Oxendine (Laurinburg, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 2-2 on the season. He allowed one earned run on three hits in three innings of work, while striking out three.