Left-hander Trae Starnes, a freshman out of Alexander Central High, was the Game 2 starter on Saturday for Catawba Valley Community College, which won twice at home to improve its record to 10-2. He picked up his first victory of the season/CVCC PHOTO
HobbsDailyReport.com
NEWTON – Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) won a game in walk-off fashion and then won a nightcap by hitting four home runs to complete a baseball sweep of USC Union on Saturday at the Legion Fairgrounds.
CVCC won 3-2 in a nine-inning game to start the day at Henkel-Alley Field and prevailed 10-3 in a seven-inning game to improve to 10-2.
The Red Hawks’ next games are Wednesday, a doubleheader at Spartanburg Methodist. Game times have not yet been set.
CVCC 3, USC Union 2
Graham Mitchell’s RBI single bottom of the ninth inning scored Jimmy Marcelli to get the Red Hawks a walk-off win in Saturday’s first game.
The Bantams gained control early with a solo home run by Dalton Johnson on the game’s first pitch.
CVCC answered two innings later when a double by Marcelli scored Cory Watt in the bottom of the third inning.
USC Union regained a lead via an RBI single from Buddy Bleasdale in the fifth inning that scored Gabe Hall.
Cory Watt’s leadoff home run on a 3-2 count for CVCC in bottom of the seventh inning sent the game into extra innings.
In the final half-inning, Watt was hit by a pitch and Marcelli singled to start the bottom of the ninth inning before Mitchell lashed a single that went over the head of left fielder Wa’Dezmond Good to score the game-winning run.
Red Hawks starting pitcher Julian Smith, making his third start of the year, allowed six hits, two walks, two earned runs and struck out a season-high 12.
Nic Messina earned his first win of the season in relief, allowing one walk and striking out three.
CVCC 10, USC Union 3
Powered by 13 hits, including four home runs, the Red Hawks powered their way past the Bantams.
Kyran Russ drove in four runs on two hits for CVCC, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning. Willie Gordon, Grant Tilley and Rod Munoz also hit home runs for the Red Hawks.
CVCC starting pitcher Trae Starnes allowed eight hits, three runs (two earned), two walks and struck out four to earn his first win of the season. He is a freshman from Alexander Central High.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Red Hawks answered with three runs in the second inning, five in the third inning and one in the fourth inning to gain control for good.
Gordon and Russ connected on back-to-back home runs in the third inning, while Tilley’s solo blast came in the bottom of the sixth inning.
- Reported by CVCC Sports Information