HobbsDailyReport.com
NEWTON – Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) rebounded for a first-game loss on Sunday to hand Pitt Community College its first Region X baseball loss of the season.
After Pitt won the opening game at the Legion Fairgrounds 10-4, the Red Hawks won 9-4 to move within a victory of 20 for the season.
CVCC (19-9, 5-3 Region X) goes for No. 20 on Wednesday at 5 p.m., facing Queens at Henkel-Alley Field.
The Red Hawks are ranked No. 19 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Associatin (NJCAA) poll.
Pitt 10, CVCC 4
Led by two runs from outfielder Joe Quinones-Mason, the Bulldogs powered their way to a six-run victory.
Mason hit a home run in the second and eighth innings, helping Pitt score four runs in each of those innings. He led the Bulldogs with a team-high three hits.
Third baseman Graham Mitchell led the way for CVCC, driving in two runs on two hits that included his fourth home run of the season (solo shot off the hitting cage in right field in the bottom of the second inning).
Jimmy Marcelli also had two hits for the Red Hawks.
CVCC starting pitcher Julian Smith suffered his second loss of the season. He allowed four hits, four earned runs and five walk. He struck out 11, one short of tying his season high.
CVCC 9, Pitt 4
Behind a 12-hit performance, including two each by Marcelli, Garrison Burress, Mitchell and Rod Munoz, the Red Hawks salvaged a series split.
A leadoff solo home run by Cory Watt and an RBI double from Mitchell helped put CVCC up 2-0 quickly after one inning.
The Red Hawks padded their lead with three more runs in the bottom of the second inning, including a two-run home run from Munoz and an RBI double by Marcelli.
Mitchell crushed his second home run of the day — a solo shot to center field — in the bottom of the third inning.
CVCC starting pitcher Harry Hatcher held Pitt’s bats at bay with one of his best outings of the season. He allowed six hits and four earned runs, but walked none and struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings.
Down 9-0 heading into the final inning, the Bullldogs made a comeback late, scoring four runs in the seventh inning. Austin LaFollette hit a solo home run and Trevor Losito singled in a run.
- Reported by CVCC Sports Information