Wingate, N.C.----The Catawba College Indians held on for a 7-4 win over the Bulldogs of Wingate University in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Catawba Indians improve to 19-7 overall and 6-6 in the SAC. The Bulldogs fall to 11-8 overall and 8-4 in the conference.

Junior outfielder John Carroll Neese (Summerfield, N.C.) was one-for-three with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored to lead Catawba’s offense. Senior outfielder Wade Moore (Salisbury, N.C.) was two-for-four with a triple, homer and two runs scored, while senior outfielder Zeb Link (Woodleaf, N.C.) drove in two runs for the Indians.

Senior infielder Logan Isaacs (Raleigh, N.C.) was two-for-two with two RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Sophomore infielder Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) went three-for-four with a double, while freshman catcher Taylor Honeycutt (Indian Trail, N.C.) had a homer and two RBI for the Bulldogs.

Catawba got it started in the first. After the first two batters were retired, the Indians reached with a walk and a single to keep the inning alive for Neese, who blasted a 3-1 pitch over the centerfield fence to give Catawba a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs got one back in the second on a sacrifice fly from Honeycutt to make it 3-1. Catawba answered with a run in the third, as Moore led off with a triple, then score on an RBI groundout from sophomore outfielder Ryan Bostian (Kannapolis, N.C.).

Wingate cut the lead to two in the fourth when Isaacs drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-2.

Catawba plated two more runs in the fifth on a two-run single from Link, pushing the lead to 6-2. A solo homer from Moore in the seventh put the Indians on top 7-2.

Honeycutt led off the sixth with his second homer of the year to cut the lead to four. Sophomore outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) followed with a single and went to third on an error. He would score on an RBI single from Isaacs to make it 7-4.

Sophomore right-hander Clay Watson (Lexington, N.C.) got the win in relief for Catawba. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in two innings of work, while striking out two to improve to 2-0 on the season. Sophomore Wil Huneycutt (Locust, N.C.) notched his second save of the year, pitching the final two innings without allowing a run on two hits. Junior right-hander Marc Rape (Lancaster, S.C.) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out five, falling to 0-1 on the year.

Wingate returns to action Tuesday, traveling to Belmont Abbey for a 2 p.m. start. Catawba returns to action Friday, hosting Newberry at 7 p.m.