HICKORY, N.C. — The sixth-ranked Catawba Valley Community College baseball team earned a midweek doubleheader sweep on Wednesday afternoon against Spartanburg Methodist at Henkel-Alley Field.
With the victories, the Red Hawks improve to 26-7 overall on the season.
Game one: No. 6 Catawba Valley 2, Spartanburg Methodist 1
In a game that featured a combined five hits, the Red Hawks took the lead early and held off a late charge by the Pioneers to take game one of the set.
The Red Hawks took a 2-0 lead on a two-RBI single by first baseman James Hinson — one of CVCC hits in the game. Second baseman Jose Vargas had the other two after going 2-for-2 at the plate.
Ian Asken earned his second win of the season. He allowed just two hits, four walks and struck out five batters in four innings of work.
After the Pioneers scored a run in the seventh, Red Hawk closer Cooper Sain slammed the door for a potential SMC comeback in the seventh inning, earning his fourth save of the season.
Game two: No. 6 Catawba Valley 13, Spartanburg Methodist 8
The Red Hawks won a slugfest in game two fo the doubleheader against the Pioneers, tallying 11 hits and capitalizing on eight drawn walks in a five-run victory.
Of those 11 Catawba Valley hits, six were extra-bat knocks, including home runs by James Hinson and Will Samuelson.
Hinson and left fielder Jackson Brown both went 3-for-3 at the plate. Hinson drove in three RBI, while Brown scored three runs, drove in a run and recorded a triple. Samuelson went 1-for-3 with three RBI.
Catawba Valley starter Chance Daquila improved to 3-0 on the season. He allowed four hits, two runs, three walks and struck out three batters in three innings.
The CVCC baseball team returns to action this weekend for a road conference series against Wake Tech (9-10, 4-8 in Region 10).
The Red Hawks (13-2 in Region 10) and Eagles are scheduled to play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday consisting of one nine-inning and one seven-inning game before finishing the series on Sunday at noon with a single nine-inning game. All three games are scheduled to take place at Ting Park in Holly Springs, N.C.
