#3 Catawba Cruises Passed #5 Carson-Newman to Head to Championship

TAMPA, Fla. - The Catawba College Indians (43-17) smashed their way to a 14-3 victory over five-seed Carson-Newman (43-18) in Friday night's game of the NCAA II Baseball South Regional, sending them to tomorrow's championship matchup against host Tampa.

Eagles pitching couldn't match up to the Indian offense, who put up five runs in the first inning alone. Leadoff man David Thomas took a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall to start the game for Catawba who never relinquished the lead. Eagles starter Charlie Hill (2-3) lasted just one-third of an inning. Hill issued a one out walk to Jerry Sands before catcher Ryan Query hit a long triple, scoring Sands and ending Hill's short outing.

Catawba also collected homeruns from Chad Baker and Bubba Morris, the first of his career. Five Indians posted multi-hit games against the Eagles, including Baker (3), Sands (3), Craig Lyerly (3), Brett Hatley (4), and Matt Kepley (2).

The Indians received a much better start from their right-hander. Tim Holmes (5-1) tossed his first complete game for Catawba, allowing three runs on seven hits for the win. Carson-Newman second baseman Langdon Potts did manage a homerun off Holmes in the third to bring the score to 5-1, but it wasn't enough for the Eagles.

Catawba will face off against the top-seed University of Tampa tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the championship game. They will need to defeat Tampa twice to win the South Regional.