Catawba Sports Information

SALISBURY — Catawba topped visiting Barton, 9-6, in college baseball action on Tuesday night at Newman Park. The Indians improve to 28-16, while the Bulldogs fall to 28-17.

Zach Almond drove in three runs and connected on one of three Catawba home runs in the win. Malachi Hanes and Luke Setzer also homered for the Indians. Chance Bowden had a third-inning single to extend his hitting streak to 21 games.

Jake Kimble put Catawba on top with a two-run triple with two outs in the second inning. Dylan Richardson followed with an RBI-double to make it 3-0.

Barton’s Chris Davis hit a two-run homer in the third frame for the Bulldogs, but Almond answered with a three-run shot in the third inning, for a 6-2 Catawba edge. Hanes connected for a two-run homer in the fourth inning to push the Indians on top, 8-3.

The Indians held a 9-4 edge in the eighth when Hunter Pearre drew a two-out walk and Ben Youngblood homered. Heath Mitchem came on to get the final out of the inning and Bryan Blanton tossed the ninth for his seventh save. Blanton allowed a leadoff single before getting a double play grounder and a fly out to end the game.

Riley Myers improved to 2-1 on the mound with the win. He hurled five frames and allowed four runs off nine hits and struck out three batters.

Justin Evans (4-3) tossed the first two innings for Barton and took the loss.

Almond, Richardson and Kyle Smith had two hits for Catawba. Pearre, Youngblood and Blake Spangenberg produced two hits for the Bulldogs.

Catawba closes out its home schedule tonight at Newman Park, hosting 20th-ranked USC Aiken at 6 pm.

Barton.............. 002 110 020 - 6 13 2 Catawba............. 033 210 00X - 9 12 0 WP — Riley Myers (2-1). LP — Justin Evans (4-3).