Staff report

FOREST CITY — Will Albertson drove in four runs as Catawba crushed Anderson, 12-2, in the first round of the South Atlantic Conference baseball tournament on Friday at McNair Field.

Albertson started Catawba’s scoring with a two-run single in the first inning and added a two-run single in the eighth.

Albertson now has 80 RBIs. The school record for a season is the 85 knocked in by Jerry Sands in 2008. Sands is currently on the active roster of the Cleveland Indians.

Top-seeded Catawba (36-10) settled the game with a five-run third inning that featured a two-run double by Dylan Richardson and a two-run homer by Luke Setzer (East Rowan), his third of the season. Catawba led 8-1, after three innings.

Kyle Smith was usually on base in front of Albertson and scored four runs. Blake Houston scored twice. T.J. Wharton had two hits.

Catawba starting pitcher Craig Brooks (9-1) fanned 10 batters but struggled early and was lifted after five innings and 109 pitches.

Brooks may be able to return to the mound if Catawba stays alive deep into the tournament.

Relievers Sean Grant, Avery Bowles, Bryan Blanton and Michael Elwell finished things off for the Indians.

Nick Bernardo homered for sixth-seeded Anderson (21-29). L.J. Newman had three hits.

Weather permitting, Catawba plays at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday in the double-elimination event.

Anderson  010  000  100 —    2    9  3

Catawba   305   000  13x  — 12   11  0

HR — N. Bernardo (5), Setzer (3).

W — Brooks (9-1). L — Ayers (2-2).