HICKORY, N.C. – The 16th-ranked Catawba Valley Community College picked up its seventh win in the past eight games, earning an 11-0 five-inning, run-rule victory against the Lenoir-Rhyne junior varsity team on Wednesday at Henkel-Alley Field.

Not only did the Red Hawks secure their 18th victory of the season on Wednesday, but CVCC head baseball coach Paul Rozzelle proposed to his long-time girlfriend Cayley Berry after the fifth-grade teacher threw out the honorary first pitch for "Shuford Elementary School Night."

The Bears attempted to be spoilers for Wednesday's special festivities, loading the bases in the top of the first inning. However, CVCC starting pitcher Matthew Dailey was able to dodge trouble without giving up any runs.

The Red Hawks responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning when David Graves connected on a home run to deep left field — his fourth homer in his past six games.

After a scoreless second inning by both teams, Catawba Valley scored four more runs in the bottom of the third inning, including Jimmy Marcelli's first home run of the season.

Rod Munoz also had an RBI single during the inning for CVCC. Willie Gordon also brought home a Red Hawk run via a bases loaded walk, and teammate Blake Jeter's RBI sac fly scored Graham Mitchell.

Catawba Valley capped its run-rule victory in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring five runs, including a two-run home run by Matt Yarbrough — the first of his CVCC career.

Mitchell also drove in two runs on a double, and Graves added his third RBI of the game on a single.

Dailey and CVCC relief pitcher Thomas Walden held the Lenoir-Rhyne bats at bay, allowing just three hits and one walk, and the duo combined to strike out five batters to help secure the win.

The CVCC baseball team returns to action on Saturday at Henkel-Alley Field for a key Region X series against rival Pitt Community College.

The Red Hawks play the first of two games against the Bulldogs on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. before closing out the series on Sunday with a single noon contest. Admission is free.