Staff report
NEWBERRY, S.C. – Catawba wrapped up its third straight South Atlantic Conference baseball championship over the weekend.
The Indians (35-8, 26-4) swept three games at Newberry (24-22, 17-13), while second-place Wingate (32-14, 22-8) was winning two out of three against Lincoln Memorial. That combination of events gave Catawba a four-game lead over the Bulldogs with three left to play.
Ty Hubbard (South Rowan) had a big weekend and had three hits and three RBIs in Friday’s 8-5 victory.
Brandon Crabtree, Sam Hunter, Jake Dunlap and Nathan Chrismon (South Rowan) had two hits.
Colt Wilkins pitched a complete game, striking out four and walking two.
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In the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, Crabtree’s two-run homer in the eighth lifted the Indians to a 5-3 victory.
Hubbard had three hits and two RBIs.
Seth Sharpe relieved in the sixth when Newberry scored its three runs and pitched the seventh and eighth for the win. Joe Burleyson (East Rowan) pitched the bottom of the ninth for the save.
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In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, Crabtree drove in five runs with a two-run single and three-run double.
Logan Dyer (East Rowan), Cam Burleyson (Carson), Hunter and Hubbard had two hits.
Casey Gouge (West Rowan) walked six but earned the win. He took a shutout into the sixth inning.
Catawba plays at UNC Pembroke Tuesday and finishes SAC play at home against Emory & Henry next weekend.
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GAME 1, Friday
Catawba 330 020 000 – 8
Newberry 301 101 000 -5
W – Wilkins (7-2).
GAME 2, Saturday
Catawba 100 000 102 – 5
Newberry 000 030 000 – 3
W – Sharpe (7-1). HR – Crabtree (8).
GAME 3, Saturday
Catawba 010 020 3 – 6
Newberry 000 002 0 – 2
W – Gouge (7-0).
