SALISBURY, N.C. - Catawba used two big innings to take the first game of a doubleheader 8-6 before winning the second game by an identical score on a walk-off home run in extra innings, handing Newberry its first series sweep since last April.
The Catawba Indians (22-18, 16-5 SAC), who have rebounded from a seven-game losing streak to start the season to take sole possession of first place in the South Atlantic Conference standings, dispatched of Newberry (20-18, 11-10 SAC) on Chance Bowden's two-run home run to right field in the eighth inning of Game Two.
Evan Estridge suffered the loss in relief, pitching two innings out of the bullpen after starting Friday night's high-scoring affair and earning a no-decision.
Newberry led by as many as four runs in the early going before the Indians came back to send the game past the scheduled distance. A
Ben Herring double and a groundout by
Kevin Clanton provided two runs in the second inning for the Wolves. A frame later, a daring double steal attempt saw
Dalton Lansdowne swipe home before a
Tyler White double and a two-run double by Clanton put the Wolves ahead 6-2.
Clanton's three RBI's set a new career high for the freshman. White finished 2-for-4, an identical line to Game One, with a pair of runs scored.
Catawba battled back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the score before Bowden's game-ending home run. Estridge allowed one hit and struck out two prior to the eighth inning.
Ryan Harbin allowed six runs on 11 hits in 4.2 innings with five strikeouts, with
Barrett Walton bridging the gap with a strikeout to end the fifth.
Colin Allman drove in four runs in Game One, crushing a three-run home run in the seventh inning to spark a comeback attempt and driving in another run on an eighth-inning single. The sophomore shortstop finished 3-for-5, his third game of the season with three or more hits. He extended his team lead in home runs with his eighth of the year and moved within two of the team lead in RBI's with 41.
Newberry added another run in the top of the seventh on a single by
Tommy Passerello, closing the gap to two runs, but managed one baserunner over the final two innings. Catawba scored seven times in the third and fourth innings to effectively put the game out of reach and added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.
The Wolves open a five-game homestand Tuesday night at the Smith Road Complex with a game against Augusta. Newberry hosts Erskine Wednesday night before a three-game weekend series with No. 22 Wingate.
