College baseball: Indians keep pace with sweep

Staff report

SALISBURY — Carson-Newman and Lenoir-Rhyne finished off sweeps to continue dominant baseball seasons, but Catawba was able to stay close in the South Atlantic Conference standings by taking three in a row from Newberry over the weekend.

Catawba won the first two easily — 13-2 on Friday and 10-1 in Saturday’s first game. The Wolves put up a fight in Saturday’s nightcap, but the 14th-ranked Indians (23-7, 14-4) won that one 5-3.

Carson-Newman is 23-6 and 13-2 in the league. The L-R Bears are 24-4 and 12-3. The Wolves, Bears and Indians have separated themselves from the SAC pack.

Payne Stolsworth (West Rowan), the reigning SAC and Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week coasted Friday with massive run support. Stolsworth is 6-1. He struck out five in six innings in a game shortened to seven innings by the mercy rule.

Cole Hales (Carson) launched a grand slam in the second inning, the Indians’ first slam of the season. The homer was the third for Hales, who drove in five runs.

James Dunlap hit his first homer. Hunter Atkins had two doubles and knocked in five runs. Logan Dyer (East Rowan) had two RBIs.

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In Saturday’s first game, Casey Gouge (West Rowan) bumped his record to 4-2 with the help of another offensive onslaught. Gouge pitched into the seventh inning and struck out six.

Matthew Connolly (West Rowan) slugged two solo homers, his second and third blasts of the season. Sean Shelly had two hits and drove in three. Also getting two hits were Dunlap and Nathan Chrismon (South Rowan).

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In the finale, Austin Fine (4-2) pitched four innings for the win before Hayden Simmerson (Carson) threw three shutout innings for his eighth save.

Dylan Driver (Carson) socked his eighth home run. Chrismon drove in two runs with two hits. Hales, Dyer, Atkins and Sam Hunter also had two hits.

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