Catawba Holds Off Tusculum to Remain Unbeaten

TAMPA, Fla. - The third-seeded Catawba College (42-16) took down #2 Tusculum (41-14) with a 5-1 victory in Friday's night game of the NCAA II South Regional.

Catawba got on the board in the bottom of the first after center fielder David Thomas, who came into the game batting .435 on the season, singled to lead off the game. After Thomas stole second, third baseman slapped an RBI single up the middle, giving the Indians a 1-0 lead.

In the second, Thomas sent a towering two-run homerun to straightaway center on the first pitch of the at-bat for his 21st of the year, adding to the Indian lead. Tusculum starter Rob Currie (4-5) threw six innings, allowing five runs on six hits to accompany three walks and six strikeouts.

The Pioneer offense couldn't muster much against Catawba's Alex Fairweather (8-2) who tossed eight shutout innings before allowing one run in the ninth. After shortstop Alex Hudgins singled to lead off the inning, Christian Rosa hit a double to put runners on first and third. Center fielder Carlos Rivera produced an RBI groundout, but that would be all for Tusculum.

Tusculum appeared to get on the board in the fourth when Sean Cotton hit a shallow fly to right field scoring Matt Webb on what would have been a sacrifice, but the Indians appealed the play, contesting that Webb left early and ending the inning for the Pioneers.

Catawba will go up against #1 Tampa at 11 a.m. tomorrow, while Tusculum will face #5 Carson-Newman in an elimination game at 3 p.m.