Posted: Apr 16, 2010
SALISBURY,
NC--
Carson-Newman overcame five errors and rallied for an 8-6 win over
host Catawba in South Atlantic Conference baseball action on Friday
night at Newman Park. The Eagles improve to 29-13 overall and 15-7
in the SAC, while the 28th-ranked Catawba Indians fall to 32-9 and
14-8.
The Eagles did most
of their damage in the sixth inning, erasing a 5-0 lead, as they
collected seven of their 10 hits in the frame and scored seven
runs. Catawba sophomore Clay Watson (Lexington, NC/N. Davidson HS),
making his first start of the season, held Carson-Newman scoreless
for five innings on just two hits then ran into trouble in the
sixth.
The first four
Carson-Newman batters of the sixth inning delivered hits to chase
Watson. After a strikeout and a hit batter, Jonathan Dalton
(Rutledge, TN) doubled home two runs to cut the deficit to 5-4 and
Evan Patterson (Knoxville, TN) followed with a two-run single for a
6-5 lead. Catawba got a run back in its sixth on a pair of Eagle
errors, but Ryan Hendrickson (Port St. Lucie, FL) struck out six of
the nine batters he faced to close things out and earn his second
save.
Catawba scored three
unearned runs in the third to grab the early lead. Corey Parker
(Kernersville, NC/Glenn HS) led off with a double and Wade Moore
(Salisbury, NC/W. Rowan HS/NC State) walked. Zeb Link (Woodleaf,
NC/W. Rowan HS) put down a sacrifice bunt, but on the tag at first
the ball was dislodged and rolled into right center allowing two
runs to score. Garrett Furr (Gold Hill, NC/Mt. Pleasant HS) singled
home the last run.
An error to start
the fifth led to more Catawba runs on a two-run double by Furr.
After the big Eagle inning, Carson-Newman again had defensive
problems, dropping their second high fly of the night and allowing
Moore to score on a failed pick-off throw. The Eagles also had two
other bobbling catches on pop ups.
Hendrickson got the
big out of the night as he struck out Moore to end the seventh with
a pair of runners on. Jeff Lockwood (Knoxville, TN) provided an
insurance run with his 19th home run, a solo shot in the
ninth.
Patterson had three
hits on the night for the Eagles, including a pair of doubles.
Lockwood and Mills Rogers (Simpsonville, SC) each had two hits.
Austin Bridgewater (Morristown, TN) improved to 5-0 on the hill. He
allowed five runs, one earned, off five hits and four walks in five
innings.
Furr had two hits
and three RBI for the Indians. Moore was on base four of five times
with a hit and three walks. Craige Lyerly (Salisbury, NC/E. Rowan
HS) had a hit and a walk.
