HobbsDailyReport.com
NEWTON – Closing the door on a victory didn’t come easy for Catawba Valley Community College or USC Salkehatchie on Wednesday.
They split a doubleheader at the Legion Fairgrounds by erasing big leads, USC Salkehatchie winning 10-9 after being down six runs at one point and CVCC winning 8-4 with all eight runs in one inning.
David Graves connects for a hit Wednesday in Catawba Valley Community College’s doubleheader at the Legion Fairgrounds./CVCC PHOTO
CVCC improved to 28-10 after having its nine-game win streak snapped by a loss in Wednesday’s first game at Henkel-Alley Field.
The Red Hawks — ranked No. 12 in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in Division II — play three key Region X games this weekend against Brunswick Community College. On Saturday a nine-inning game is scheduled at 1 p.m. with a seven-inning game to follow. The teams meet Sunday for a nine-inning game at 1 p.m.
USC Salkehatchie 10, CVCC 9
Down 9-3 heading into the seventh inning, the Indians capitalized on six hits and one CVCC error to score seven runs and stun the Red Hawks, who came in having won nine straight games.
CVCC gained a quick 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when first baseman Kyran Russ hit a three-run home run — his team-leading ninth of the season — and Graham Mitchell also drove in a run with a single.
The Indians responded with two runs in the top of the second inning, including an RBI single by Rod Dobbs and an RBI groundout by Ashton Hawkins, to cut the deficit to 4-2.
The Red Hawks extended their advantage to 8-2 by scoring four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, including a two-run home run by left fielder David Graves (his eighth).
A solo home run by Andrew Livingston in the top of the sixth inning cut USC Salkehatchie’s deficit to 9-3, setting up the comeback.
The Indians’ Hunter Coleman, Asher Smith and Cody Adams helped lead the late-game rally in the seventh inning.
Adams hit an RBI single before both Smith and Coleman connected on three-run home runs. Coleman’s blast with no outs in the inning put the Indians ahead for good.
The Red Hawks were able to get the tying run — Cory Watt — to third base with just one out, but a strikeout and fly out to left field ended the game.
CVCC 8, USC Salkehatchie 4
Scoring eight runs on six hits and taking advantage of two Indian errors in the sixth inning, the Red Hawks rallied for a victory in the nightcap.
CVCC’s offense struggled through five innings, mustering no runs and just three hits. The Red Hawk defense also struggled, committing six errors.
The Indians went ahead with a two RBI singles from Morgan Melendez — in the third and fifth innings – and netted three runs.
Andrew Livingston also drove in a run on a bases loaded walk in the top of the sixth inning to make it a 4-0.
Graves helped start the CVCC comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI double, scoring Jimmy Marcelli.
Two Indians errors on the next two at bats helped score three more Red Hawks runs in the inning before catcher Willie Gordon’s two-run home run completed the rally with CVCC leading 6-4.
Adding some late insurance in the bottom of the sixth inning, Marcelli drove in a run on a double and Mitchell had an RBI single.
Freshman pitcher Nic Messina helped close out a win by striking out two of the five batters he faced.
- Reported by CVCC Sports Information