HICKORY, N.C. — The 17th-ranked Catawba Valley Community College baseball team earned a Sunday afternoon split with visiting Walters State at Henkel-Alley Field.
The Red Hawks (6-1) defeated the Senators 5-1 in a nine-inning game one before suffering a late collapse in an 8-4 loss in game two in seven innings.
Game one: Catawba Valley 5, Walters State 1 (nine innings)
Behind a three-run home run from third baseman Graham Mitchell and a nine-strikeout performance on the mound from pitcher Julian Smith, the Red Hawks defeated the Senators by four runs in the opening game of the two-game set on Sunday.
Walters State quickly took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI triple from Duncan Pence, but Catawba Valley answered in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single from Mitchell, which plated Cody Payne.
The Red Hawks gained the lead for good in the third inning on Mitchell's two-out, three-run homer to right field, which scored Jimmy Marcelli and Tyler Campbell.
Smith kept the Walters State bats in check, allowing just two hits, one earned run and one walk to go with his nine strikeouts en route to his second victory on the mound of the season.
Red Hawk relievers Harry Hatcher and Nic Messina closed out the final four innings of the game, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
Campbell added an RBI single in the seventh inning for insurance to help seal Catawba Valley's game-one victory.
Game two: Walters State 8, Catawba Valley 4 (seven innings)
Tied 4-4 through six innings, the Senators used a four-run seventh inning to seize a game two victory and split against the Red Hawks on Sunday afternoon.
Dylan Harris and Duncan Pence both hit home runs for Walters State in its win. Pence's two-run blast in the fourth inning scored Tyler Gentry, while Harris' three-run homer in the seventh inning helped put the Senators ahead for good in the contest.
Graham Mitchell, Brett Macchia and Cory Watt led Catawba Valley, driving in one RBI each.
Watt also showed off his defensive prowess in Sunday's nightcap, robbing a potential home run by Luke Berryhill in the sixth inning with an over-the-wall catch in right field.
Red Hawk starting pitcher Trae Starnes allowed three hits, two earned runs and struck out four batters in his four-inning outing.
The CVCC baseball team returns to action on Wednesday night when it travels to Allendale, S.C. for a doubleheader against USC Salkehatchie. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
