HICKORY, N.C. — The Catawba Valley Community College baseball team celebrated a successful "Sophomore Day" on Saturday, defeating visiting Fayetteville Tech 1-0 at Henkel-Alley Field in the Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds.

The Red Hawks improve to 32-19 overall on the season and 15-7 in Region X play with the victory.

Sophomore pitcher Logan Bender led the Red Hawks in their win, striking out a program-record 18 batters. Bender allowed just one hit and one walk in his eight innings of work on the mound during his record-setting performance.

A pitching duel between Bender and Fayetteville Tech starter Tamiris Palmer dominated Saturday's nine-inning game. Palmer allowed just two CVCC hits, four walks and struck out four batters in his seven-inning appearance.

Catawba Valley broke the scoreless tie between the two squads in the ninth inning, loading the bases before second baseman R.J. Conner drew a walk-off walk to score pinch runner Vinny Consolo and lift CVCC to its 15th conference win of the spring.

Timothy Davila picked up his fourth win of the season in relief of Bender. Davila allowed one hit, one walk and struck out one batter in one inning of work.

With the loss, Fayetteville Tech drops to 5-25 overall on the season and 3-21 in conference games.

The CVCC baseball team is back in action on Sunday when it resumes a suspended seven-inning game from Saturday. The Red Hawks and Trojans will also play a nine-inning game following that continued contest.

The action between CVCC and FTCC resumes at 1 p.m. at Henkel-Alley Field. Admission is free.