Box Score  

Forest City, N.C.----The top-seeded Catawba College Indians scored eight runs in the second inning Sunday afternoon en route to a 10-0 victory over second-seeded Wingate University in the 2014 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference championship game at McNair Field. The Indians win their third tournament title in six years and sixth in program history. Catawba improves to 32-17 overall, while the Bulldogs fall to 31-16 on the season.

The victory gives Catawba an automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The Indians handed Wingate both losses in the SAC Tournament. The Bulldogs opened the tournament with an 8-7 win over Tusculum on Thursday and a 6-2 victory against LMU Friday night. Catawba edged Wingate 1-0 in 12 innings Saturday night, while the Bulldogs responded with a 3-0 victory earlier Sunday against Tusculum.

T.J. Wharton went three-for-five with a double, three RBI and a run scored to lead the Catawba attack. Cameron Beard drove in a pair of runs, while Ethan Satterfield added a double, RBI and two runs scored. Keaton Hawks was two-for-four with an RBI and two runs scored for the Indians.

The Bulldogs were held to six hits on the afternoon, with six different players collecting singles for Wingate. Senior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) was one-for-three with a walk, while freshman Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) and senior Matthew Barrier (Mt. Pleasant, N.C.) each went one-for-two for the Bulldogs.

After a scoreless first inning, Catawba sent 13 hitters to the plate in the second, scoring eight runs on six hits. Satterfield started the frame with a double, then scored on an RBI single from Wharton. Beard added a two-run single, while a bases-load walk and RBI groundout made it 5-0. Wharton's two-run double made it 7-0, while a Wingate error on the play allowed the eighth run of the inning to score.

The Indians plated two more runs in the fifth to make the final margin 10-0. The first run scored on a Wingate error, while an RBI groundout put Catawba on top by 10.

SAC Pitcher of the Year Craig Brooks notched his second win of the tournament, moving to 12-2 on the year. He allowed two hits in six innings of work, striking out seven and walking three. Senior right-hander Ryne Poplin (Norwood, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 0-2. He allowed five runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings of work, striking out one. Sophomore left-hander Jordan Newsome (Matthews, N.C.) and freshman right-hander Cameron Price (Indian Trail, N.C.) combined for four shutout relief innings for Wingate.

The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday, traveling to Limestone for a 3 p.m. start. Wingate wraps up its regular season this weekend, hosting Erskine for a three-game series, starting Friday at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs and Flying Fleet play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.