Staff report

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Catawba’s 14-7 South Atlantic Conference baseball win at Carson-Newman on Saturday was a reminder of just how good Carson’s baseball program has been in recent years.

Former Carson Cougars Cole Hales, Dylan Driver, Logan Rogers and Hayden Simmerson were instrumental in the Indians’ comeback victory in front of 314 fans at Silver Diamond Stadium.

In the sixth inning, Hales turned a 4-2 deficit into a 6-4 lead with one swing, an opposite-field grand slam with Driver, Levi Perrell and Sam Hunter on base.

Carson-Newman (12-13, 7-6) rallied to tie the game at 7-all after six innings. but Driver’s run-scoring double broke the tie and put league-leading Catawba (21-7, 10-3) ahead to stay in the seventh.

Casey Gouge (2-1) was credited with the win. The former West Rowan Falcon lefty relieved Austin Fine and got the last two outs in the sixth.

Simmerson pitched the seventh, eighth and ninth with few problems — one hit, one walk, three strikeouts — to record his third save.

Hales scored three runs and drove in five. Driver had two hits and scored three runs. Rogers had two hits and two RBIs. Drew Robertson had two doubles and two RBIs. Hunter had three hits and scored three times.

Sunday’s doubleheader with the Eagles at Silver Diamond Stadium is scheduled to start at noon.