Wingate, N.C.----The Catawba College Indians swept a doubleheader at Wingate University Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. The Indians won the opener 9-5, while taking game two 7-3 to finish the regular season 27-21 overall and 19-8 in the SAC, winning the regular season conference title. The Bulldogs fall to 34-15 overall and 17-10 in league play, finishing second in the conference standings.
Game One: Catawba 9, Wingate 5
Jacob Nester had a homer and three RBI to lead the Catawba offense in game one.
Joe Butts added three hits, two RBI and two runs scored, while
Jackson Raper was three-for-five with an RBI and two runs scored.
Luke Setzer collected an RBI and run scored, with
Cameron Morrison and
Jason Curtis each collecting an RBI.
Sophomore infielder
McCann Mellett (Charlotte, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Wingate offense. Senior outfielder
Ty Andrus (Winston-Salem, N.C.) collected a hit, RBI and run scored, while senior designated hitter
Bradley Brown (Hamlet, N.C.) also drove in a run. Junior infielder
Zach Little (Troutman, N.C.) went two-for-three with a run scored for the Bulldogs.
Wingate got on the board in the second when junior outfielder
Tanner Forry (York, Pa.) was hit by a pitch to start the frame, stole second, then scored on a Catawba error. Setzer's sacrifice fly in the third tied it, while Nester led off the fourth with a solo shot to give the Indians a 2-1 lead.
Nester added a two-run single in the seventh to make it 4-1, while a Morrison sacrifice fly put Catawba on top by five.
The Bulldogs answered with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie it. After two walks started the inning, Andrus made it 5-2 with an RBI single. Mellett followed by lining a two-run double to right center to make it a one-run game, then scored on Brown's sacrifice fly to tie it.
Catawba had the answer, scoring four times in the eighth to take a 9-5 lead. Raper plated the first run with an RBI double, while a two-run single from Butts gave the Indians a three-run edge. Morrison's RBI single made the final margin 9-5.
Michael Elwell got the win, moving to 5-3. He allowed two runs on three hits in six innings, striking out 10 and walking three.
Hunter Shephered worked the final 2 2/3 innings for the save, striking out four and allowing two hits. Junior right-hander
Lane Wildman (Virginia Beach, Va.) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Game Two: Catawba 7, Wingate 3
Nester drove in a pair of runs in game two, while
Chance Bowden added a homer. Morrison, Butts and
Heath Mitchem each added an RBI for the Indians.
Forry was two-for-two with a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate offense in game two. Junior catcher
Andrew Llewellyn (Moseley, Va.) added a hit and an RBI, while Mellett collected two more hits.
Bowden got the Indians on the board with a solo shot in the top of the first, while Raper followed with a double and scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
Wingate answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame. A hit batsman and walk put two on for Forry, who lined an RBI single to left center to make it 2-1. Llewellyn followed by dumping an RBI single down the right field line to tie it.
Nester and Morrison collected RBI singles in the third to put the Indians on top 4-2. Forry got the 'Dogs within a run when he led off the fourth with his 17th homer of the season to make it 4-3.
Catawba scored three in the sixth to take a 7-3 lead, needing just one hit in the frame. A single and two walks loaded the bases, with three straight bases-loaded walks forcing home three runs. Wingate went on to leave five runners on base the final two innings.
Connor Johnson got the win, moving to 3-2. He allowed three runs on four hits in five innings, striking out five and walking one. Senior right-hander
Hunter Hamilton (Troy, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 2-3. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking two. Bulldog pitchers walked eight in the seven-inning game two.
The Bulldogs will be the number two seed in the upcoming SAC Tournament, which will take place in Kodak, Tenn. Wingate will be in action on Friday, with the full schedule being announced later this week.
