HARTSVILLE - The Newberry Wolves had runners on base in all but one inning against the South Atlantic Conference pitcher of the year, but the scarlet and gray were unable to convert them into the decisive runs in a 4-1 loss to Catawba in the opening round of the SAC Tournament at Byerly Park on Thursday afternoon.

Seventh-seed Newberry (28-21) will face third-seed Wingate in an elimination game at 10 a.m. Friday, with further action dependent on the winning teams.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Wolves touched up SAC pitcher of the year Carley Tysinger for six hits and had runners on base in all but the sixth inning, but were unable to scratch a run across until the seventh inning.
• Newberry's pitching staff allowed only three hits, but five wild pitches and five walks aidded the Catawba offense.
• Morgan Sweeney and Natalie Willis each went 2-for-3 at the plate, with Sweeney driving in Newberry's only run.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Early wild pitches were the Wolves' undoing after the first two Catawba batters reached on walks. A wild pitch with runners at second and third brought home the first run, and an RBI groundout to shortstop made it a 2-0 game after the first inning.

Catawba scored its third run in the second inning when Holli Chandler walked, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a second wild pitch. Catawba's fourth run came when Gina Gerone scored on a wild pitch in the third. Three of Catawba's four runs came across on wild pitches.

Newberry stranded a runner in scoring position in the third and the fifth. Sweeney drove home the Wolves' only run with a single with two outs in the top of the seventh, but the Wolves would leave the bases loaded to end the contest.