Columbus, Ga. —- The Catawba College dominated in its series-opening win at 2023 NCAA Tournament participant Columbus State, recording 20 hits en route to a 15-6 win at Ragsdale Field at Burger King Stadium on Friday afternoon.
TEAM STATS
- Catawba out-hit Columbus State 20-7
- The Catawba Indians recorded seven of 10 extra-base hits and two of three home runs
- The Cougars committed three of five errors in the game
- CSU left nine runners on base; Catawba stranded 10
- The Catawba Indians had two of the three stolen bases in the contest
- Catawba's pitchers allowed three earned runs on seven hits and four walks, while striking out five; Columbus State's staff allowed 11 earned runs on 20 hits and four walks, striking out seven
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
- Bo Rusher III went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, a walk, two RBI and three runs scored
- Dylan Driver recorded three more hits with a double, RBI, two runs scored and a steal
- Levi Perrell also was 3-for-5 with a double, a walk and two runs scored
- Sam Hunter added two hits with a double, two walks and three runs scored
- Jackson Price belted his second homer of the season
- Austin Fine earned his second win in as many starts this year, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out two
- Mason Gwyn, Casey Gouge and Trace Aufderhar provided an inning of relief apiece, with none allowing an earned run
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST INNING
- Perrell took the first pitch of the game for a leadoff double to right center
- He later scored on a wild pitch before a CSU error scored Driver, who singled earlier in the inning to take an early 2-0 lead
THIRD INNING
- Hunter doubled to lead off the third inning
- Rusher scored him on a single up the middle
- He and Ty Hubbard scored on another critical Cougar error, as the Catawba Indians took a 5-0 lead
FIFTH INNING
- Cole Hales singled and swiped second to escape a pickoff to lead off the fifth
- Cooper Bryson's single scored him
- CSU got on the board in the fifth on a sac fly
- Colby Brabston hit a two-out homer to cut their deficit to 6-3
SIXTH INNING
- Driver hit a one-out single and advanced to third on a walk and wild pitch
- Another two-out error scored two runs to restore the five-run lead
SEVENTH INNING
- Price belted his second homer of the season on a solo shot with one out in the seventh
- Perrell laid down a two-out bunt single and scored on Driver's double
- CSU started off the bottom half with a walk and a double
- The Cougars scored two to cut the deficit back to 10-5
EIGHTH INNING
- Rusher hit a solo homer to lead off the eighth for his first as a Catawba Indian
- Hales and Hubbard singled and doubled, respectively, to put runners on second and third with none out
- A two-out balk Hales before Drew Robertson's bloop single gave Catawba a 13-5 advantage
NINTH INNING
- Hunter walked to lead off the ninth before Rusher doubled to give the Catawba Indians runners with second and third again with nobody out
- Hunter scored on a wild pitch and Hubbard's sac fly put the 15th runs on the board for Catawba
- CSU added one run on an error, but Aufderhar left the bases loaded with a strikeout looking
UP NEXT
- Catawba finishes up its series against the Cougars tomorrow, as weather pushed the Sunday game to a seven-inning doubleheader tomorrow
- Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.
