HobbsDailyReport.com
NEWTON – The Red Hawks will be looking to bounce back on Wednesday in their next baseball game, at home against USC Lancaster at 4 p.m.
Southeastern Community College beat Catawba Valley Community College in two of three games over the weekend in Whiteville, winning 12-11 on a bases-loaded walk-off walk on Sunday and 9-4 in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
CVCC (34-13, 13-6 Region X) – ranked No. 13 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll — won Saturday’s first game 12-10.
The Red Hawks’ regular season schedule ends on May 6.
Southeastern 12, CVCC 11 (Sunday)
David Stowers drew a bases-loaded, walk-off walk by David Stowers helped lift Southeastern to a 12-11 victory and the a series win.
The game lasted just shy of four hours and included five lead changes and three ties.
CVCC grabbed an early 3-0 lead by scoring three runs in the top of the second inning, including an RBI double by catcher Brett Macchia and an RBI single by center fielder Rod Munoz.
Southeastern (15-19-1, 8-9 in Region X) surged back ahead by scoring two runs each in the second, third and fourth innings, led by an RBI single by Trevor Johnson, a two-run single by Bladen Strickland and an RBI double by Gage Hammonds.
Down 6-3, the Red Hawks rallied to gain a three-run lead through 5 ½ innings.
CVCC scored three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, including RBI singles by Cory Watt and Garrison Burress and an RBI sacrifice fly by Graham Mitchell.
Trent McKay’s three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning — the first hit of his CVCC career — powered the Red Hawks in front of the Rams, 9-6.
But Southeastern tied it in the sixth inning behind a two-run homer from Hammonds and a solo home run by Justin Bowers.
CVCC gained another lead in the top of the seventh inning when Mitchell drove home a run on a sacrifice fly and designated hitter Tyler Campbell connected on his second home run of the series — a solo shot over the left field wall.
The Rams slowly chipped away at the deficit, scoring one run in each of the final three innings, including an RBI sacrifice fly by Strickland and a solo home run by Luke Orr.
Southeastern loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning on a walk by Johnson, a single by pinch-hitter Ironeyes Locklear and an intentional walk of Ted McNeil to set up Stowers’ walk-off walk for the game-winning run.
CVCC 12, Southeastern 10 (Saturday)
Behind a grand slam from Munoz, the Red Hawks held off the Rams for a two-run win in the opening game of the series.
CVCC grabbed a 9-1 lead through three innings, scoring five runs in the second inning and four in the third inning.
Macchia’s two-run single in the second inning opened the scoring for the Red Hawks, who also scored runs during the inning on a balk, passed ball and a steal of home by left fielder Cody Payne.
Munoz connected on his grand slam in the third inning — his fourth home run of the season.
The Rams capitalized on 11 hits and four CVCC errors to pull within 11-10 through six innings. Southeastern scored one run in the first, third and fifth innings, two runs in the sixth inning and five runs in the fourth.
Stowers paced the Rams with three hits, while Hammonds drove in two runs for Southeastern.
CVCC added a late insurance run on an RBI sacrifice fly from Payne, and relief pitcher Nic Messina closed the door on a potential Rams rally in the ninth inning to earn his second save of the season.
CVCC starting pitcher Julian Smith recorded his 100th strikeout of the season and also surpassed Cole Whitney for most strikeouts in a season. Whitney had 101 punch outs last spring, and Smith has 106.
Smith went four innings, giving up eight hits, seven runs (three earned) and three walks to go with seven strikeouts.
Hunter Isaacs relieved Smith in the fourth inning and gave up one hit, three runs (none earned), three walks and struck out one to earn his third win of the season.
Thomas Walden relieved Isaacs in the seventh inning before giving way to Messina, who gave up one run, two walks and striking out three in two innings.
Southeastern 9, CVCC 4 (Saturday)
Despite a late rally by the Red Hawks, the Rams held on for a conference victory.
Southeastern gained a quick 6-0 lead, scoring three runs in each of the first and second innings, including an RBI single by Luke Orr and a two-run double by Hammonds.
Rams starting pitcher Cody Freeman held CVCC at bay for a majority of the game, giving up just four hits, three runs (two earned), three walks and striking out 10.
CVCC scored in the fourth inning when Burress singled and later scored on a wild pitch.
Campbell’s towering three-run home run to center field in the top of the sixth inning pulled CVCC within 6-4, igniting a potential rally.
But the Rams scored three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, including RBI singles by Stowers and J.J. Oxendine and an RBI double by Hammonds, to seal its win.
Harry Hatcher suffered the loss, giving up 11 hits, six runs (three earned), two walks and striking out seven.
- Reported by CVCC Sports Information