BURLINGTON, N.C. — The fourth-seeded Catawba Valley Community College baseball team didn't get off to the successful start it had envisioned in the first round of the Region X/Southeast District tournament on Friday, falling 11-3 to fifth-seeded Brunswick at Burlington Athletic Park.
The Dolphins (26-21), who advance to meet the winner of No. 1 Pitt and No. 8 Southeastern, scored three runs each in the first, fifth and ninth innings and added two more runs in the seventh inning in their victory.
Josh Chunn led the offensive charge for Brunswick, driving in a team-high five runs, including a two-RBI double in the fifth inning and a three-run home run in the ninth inning.
Rod Munoz drove in two of the three Red Hawk runs, including an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning that plated David Graves and a sac fly in the bottom of the eighth inning that scored Graham Mitchell.
Garrison Burress brought home the third CVCC run on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first inning, which scored Cory Watt, and Tyler Campbell and Mitchell also had a team-high two hits apiece for Catawba Valley (39-15).
CVCC starting pitcher Julian Smith suffered just his second loss of the season in the contest. He gave up nine hits, six runs (five earned), two walks and struck out six batters in five innings.
Red Hawk relief pitcher Timothy Davila replaced Smith in the sixth inning and tossed two innings before giving way to Hunter Isaacs in the eighth inning. Connor Hewell and Josh Rice combined to close out the final inning of the first-round tournament game.
Brunswick starting pitcher Trent Joiner held CVCC's bats in checks. He went six innings, giving up just five hits, two runs (one earned), two walks and struck out nine batters.
The finish of Friday's CVCC/Brunswick game was delayed for 43 minutes with two outs in the top of the ninth inning due to severe weather, and it resumed at 10:00 p.m.
The Red Hawks (39-15) await their next opponent, which will be either top-seeded Pitt or eighth-seeded Southeastern, in the consolation round of the double elimination tournament. The Bulldogs and Rams were scheduled to play Friday night, but their game was postponed to 10 a.m. Friday due to the length of the Friday's three first-round games.
Below is an updated look at the Region X/Southeast District tournament schedule:
2018 Region X/Southeast District tournament schedule
Friday, May 11
G1: No. 3 Pasco-Hernando (Fla.) 8, No. 6 Wake Tech 7 (10 innings)
G2: No. 2 Patrick Henry 15, No. 7 Bryant & Stratton 4
G3: No. 5 Brunswick 11, No. 4 Catawba Valley 3
G4: No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 8 Southeastern, 7 p.m., ppd. 10 a.m. Saturday
Saturday, May 12
G4: No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 8 Southeastern, 10 a.m.
G5: No. 6 Wake Tech vs. No. 7 Bryant & Stratton (Va.), 1 p.m.
G6: No. 4 Catawba Valley vs. Loser G4, 4 p.m.
G7: No. 2 Patrick Henry vs. No. 3 Pasco-Hernando (Fla.), 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 13
G8: No. 4 Brunswick vs. Winner G4, 10 a.m.
G9: Winner G6 vs. Loser G7, 1 p.m.
G10: Winner G5 vs. Loser G8, 4 p.m.
G11: Winner G7 vs. Winner G8, 7 p.m.
Monday, May 14
G12: Winner G9 vs. Winner G10, 2 p.m.
G13: Loser G11 vs. Winner G12, 5 p.m. (or at least 45 minutes after G12)
Tuesday, May 15
G14: championship: Winner G11 vs. Winner G13, 11 a.m.
G15 (if necessary): If winner of G11 loses G14, 45 minutes following end of G14
