Staff report

SALISBURY — It was au unusual three-game series for Catawba’s baseball team.

The Indians outscored Anderson 38-5 over the weekend at Newman Park, but still dropped the middle game.

It was disappointing not to sweep, but the 19th-ranked Indians (32-10, 19-5) have opened up a three-game lead in the South Atlantic Conference. Wingate and Coker, the closest pursuers, are 16-8 in league play.

Catawba opened the series with a 13-2 victory on Saturday.

Austin Fine (8-1) was in charge again on the mound. Dylan Driver had a triple and scored three runs.

Cole Hales, Parker Styborski and Cooper Bryson had two RBIs. Bryson had a triple.

• Catawba lost 3-1 in Saturday’s nightcap, as Ben Smith (6-5) pitched a complete game  for Anderson (19-21, 8-16) and held the Indians to seven hits.

Levi Perrell had a triple in the first inning and Driver knocked him in, but that was the only run Catawba’s offense could muster.

Payne Stolsworth (8-2) took the loss.

• Catawba came back to rout Anderson 22-0 on Sunday.

Hales (4-0) pitched five strong innings with five strikeouts.

Logan Rogers and Drew Robertson hit home runs.

Perrell, Rogers and Bo Rusher drove in four runs each.

Catawba returns to action on Tuesday in Kannapolis with a 6 p.m. first pitch against UNC Pembroke (31-11) at Atrium Health Ballpark.

UNCP’s roster includes former East Rowan star Morgan Padgett, a freshman who is batting .296 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 24 games.