LANCASTER, S.C. — The Catawba Valley Community College baseball team was handed a sweep at the hands of Division I USC Lancaster on Wednesday afternoon at Doomsday Corner.

With the losses, CVCC drops to 5-5 overall on the season, while USC Lancaster improves to 7-2 with its sixth-straight win.

Game one: USC Lancaster 5, Catawba Valley 4 (seven innings)

Bo Owens launched a two-run walk-off homer, lifting the Lancers to a one-run victory against the Red Hawks in the opening game of the set on Wednesday.

Catawba Valley and USC Lancaster battled for the lead during the early stages of Wednesday's first contest, trading the advantage three times in the third and fourth innings.

CVCC surged ahead 1-0 on an RBI single from R.J. Conner in the top of the third inning, but USC Lancaster tied the game in the bottom half of the third on an RBI single from Todd Mattox

The Red Hawks went back ahead with one run in the top of the fourth when Willie Gordon reached base on an error at third base, plating Trent Jones in the process.

However, the Lancers would gain the lead on a two-run single by Dylan Jones, holding their advantage until the seventh inning.

Just like it had done one night prior, CVCC rallied in the final frame, taking a one-run lead behind RBI singles from third baseman Grant Tilley and left fielder Jackson Brown.

Needing just three outs to close out their sixth victory, the Red Hawks sent reliever Nic Messina to the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Despite retiring the first two batters in the ninth inning, Messina walked the third batter (Mattox) — setting the stage for Owens' game-winning blast over the right field fence.

Game two: USC Lancaster 12, Catawba Valley 6 (seven innings)

The Lancers capitalized on 11 hits and five Red Hawk errors to come away with a six-run victory in game two of the doubleheader on Wednesday.

USC Lancaster scored all 12 of its runs in the first four innings of game two, including two runs in the first, six in the second, three in the third and one in the fourth, building a 12-2 lead through four complete.

Lancers shortstop Walker McDowell helped spark the early offensive onslaught for his team with a three-run home run in the second inning and a two-run homer in the third inning — both over the left field fence.

Catawba Valley attempted a comeback starting in the fifth inning. The Red Hawks scored two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings — all four runs coming off the bat of CVCC first baseman Tyler Campbell on a pair of singles to left field.

Despite that late effort, CVCC's early deficit would be too large to climb out of as it lost its fourth-straight contest.


The CVCC baseball team returns to action this weekend when it hosts conference rival Pitt in a three-game set. The Red Hawks and Bulldogs clash for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday before playing a single nine-inning game at noon on Sunday.