Baseball

March 9, 2016

Baucom Leads Baseball's Charge Back From 7-0 Deficit

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Freshman Harrison Baucom (Salisbury, N.C,./W. Rowan) went 4-for-4 with three RBI as Catawba recorded a comeback 14-7 win over visiting Lock Haven in baseball action on Wednesday night at Newman Park.  The Catawba Indians improve to 11-8, while the Bald Eagles fall to 4-5.

All nine starters in the Catawba lineup had a hit with Baucom leading four players with multi-hit games.  Zach Almond (Richfield, N.C./N. Stanly/UNCG) picked up three hits with Dylan Richardson (Randleman, N.C./Randleman/Appalachian St.) and Jeremy Simpson (Cleveland, N.C./W. Rowan) collecting two hits.  Simpson had three RBI and Malachi Hanes (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) hit a three-run homer.

Clay Young (Greensboro, N.C./Caldwell Academy) earned the win as he tossed four scoreless innings of relief to notch his first decision on the year.  He surrendered just two hits and fanned three.  Ryan Kahny (High Point, N.C./Central) did not allow a run and just one hit over two innings and Michael Elwell (Mooresville, N.C./Lake Norman) tossed a 1-2-3 ninth.

Catawba fell behind big after Lock Haven scored seven times in the second for a 7-0 lead.  The big blow was a grand slam by Justin Sleigh.  All the runs came after a two-out error.

The Indians immediately struck back with five in their half of the second.  Baucom brought home the first run with a single, while Will Albertson (Sophia, N.C./Randleman/Campbell) and Richardson had clutch two-out, two-run singles.

A three-run third put Catawba on top.  Baucom had a RBI double and Simpson followed with a two-run single and the Indians led 8-7.  Hanes connected on a three-run homer in the fifth with Baucom and Simpson each adding their third RBI of the contest to produce another five-run frame.

After its big second inning, Lock Haven failed to have more than one base runner in an inning the rest of the way as the Catawba relief corps allowed just three on base.  Nick Stotler had three hits for the Bald Eagles and Hunter Szafarski added two. 

Catawba is scheduled to begin a three-game league series at Anderson on Friday night at 6 pm.

Box Score