Staff report

SALISBURY — Close to unbeatable at Newman Park all season, Catawba’s baseball team tasted defeat on Saturday and again on Sunday.

The season is a long way from over for Catawba (40-14) — the field for the regionals will be announced on May 12 — but the South Atlantic Conference Tournament will continue without the Indians, the regular-season champs.

Fifth-seeded Lincoln Memorial and third-seeded Wingate will play a best-of-three for the SAC tourney championship at Asheboro’s McCrary Park on May 10-11.

After Friday’s thrilling first-round win against Lenoir-Rhyne on a walk-off homer by Logan Rogers, Catawba got shut down on Saturday by Lincoln Memorial and lost 7-0.

Levi Perrell had two of Catawba’s four hits, but LMU pitcher Eli Edds dominated the game with nine shutout innings and nine strikeouts.

Payne Stolsworth (10-3) took the loss.

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Catawba bounced back early Sunday to smash Newberry 15-4 in an elimination game.

Bo Rusher went 3-for-3 with six RBIs. Dylan Driver went 3-for-3 with four runs scored and four RBIs. He had a homer and a double.

Sam Hunter and Perrell scored three runs each. Logan Rogers and Ty Hubbard had two hits.

Mason Gwyn (8-1) relieved Cole Hales in the fourth and earned the win.

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Catawba lost 8-3 to Lincoln Memorial later on Sunday.

Cameron Bowen hit two homers for the Railsplitters, while Ethan Bobo pitched seven strong innings.

Hayden Simmerson (3-3) took the loss.