HobbsDailyReport.com
NEWTON – Louisburg College and Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) will complete a three-game series Sunday after having split a baseball doubleheader on Saturday at the Legion Fairgrounds.
The Hurricanes (11-4) and Red Hawks (11-5), ranked No. 17 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll, will play a nine-inning game Sunday with a first pitch at noon at Henkel-Alley Field.
Admission is free.
CVCC 6, Louisburg 3
Powered by home runs by Kyran Russ and Garrison Burress, the Red Hawks took the opening nine-inning game by three runs.
Russ’ two-run blast in the bottom of the fourth inning gave CVCC a quick 2-0 lead.
The Red Hawks padded their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Graham Mitchell’s RBI double scored Jimmy Marcelli. Mitchell later scored on an error at first base.
Louisburg avoided a shutout when Justin Oakley led off the sixth inning with a home run to center field. He hit it off CVCC starter Julian Smith, who gave up only two hits.
CVCC scored two more runs in the bottom of the eighth when Burress connected on his first home run of the season, which also scored Russ.
The Hurricanes made a late-game rally, driving in two runs on a home run by Aaron Beach off CVCC closer Kevin Finzer in the top of the ninth inning.
Finzer struck out the final two batters in the inning with runners on first and second.
Smith picked up his third win of the season, allowing one earned run, two walks and striking out nine in seven innings. Finzer earned his second save of the season.
Louisburg 6, CVCC 0
Despite seven hits, the Red Hawks were shut out in the second game.
Marcelli led CVCC with two hit, while Mitchell, Willie Gordon, R.J. Conner and Cody Payne each had a hit.
Louisburg starting pitcher Payton Rice struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings before giving way to reliever Payton Rice in the seventh inning.
The Red Hawks stranded seven runners in scoring position, including two each in the second, third and fourth innings.
CVCC starter Harry Hatcher took the loss, allowing six hits and three earned runs. He struck out four over 3 1/3 innings.
–Reported by CVCC Sports Information