Staff report
Junior outfielder Jerry Sands broke the Catawba record for career home runs as the 23rd-ranked Indians defeated Lander 9-5 on Tuesday night at Newman Park.
The win is the sixth straight for the Indians, who improved to 34-14 overall.
Catawba jumped out to an 8-0 lead after three innings. Chad Baker scored from first base on a throwing error in the first inning, and Catawba tacked on five more runs in the second, capped by Sandsí three-run homer.
The round-tripper was the 55th of Sandsí career, breaking the old record of 54 previously held by former North Rowan star Jimbo Davis.
Catawba added two more runs in the third, and Keith Carrigan shut out Lander for five innings on four hits with four strikeouts.
Brooks Arnette put Lander on the board in the sixth with a solo home run, and the Bearcats went on to add four more before Brett Hatley, formerly of West Rowan, got out of the inning with the bases loaded.
David Thomas added a solo home run for Catawba in the sixth to close out the scoring.
Three Catawba relievers allowed just one hit over the final three innings to secure the win.
Thomas, Baker and Hatley each had two hits for Catawba.