Staff report

SALISBURY — Catawba’s baseball team got South Atlantic Conference play started the right way with a sweep of Anderson that concluded on Sunday.

Casey Gouge (West Rowan) pitched like an ace again on Sunday— seven shutout innings — to lead a 9-0 victory.

The win was the 997th at Catawba for head coach Jim Gantt.

Catawba (7-3, 3-0) plunged from third to 18th in the national poll, but the Indians are playing well after some tough early losses in Florida. Hunter Atkins had three hits, including a triple. Sam Hunter and James Dunlap drove in two runs. Nathan Chrismon (South Rowan) had two hits.

Anticipating Saturday’s lousy weather, the teams played a doubleheader on Friday. Austin Fine (2-0) pitched six strong innings in the first game. Atkins drove in three runs and Dunlap had three hits in an 8-4 win.

In a 2-1 win, Chrismon and Cole Hales (Carson) got three hits each. The tag team of Payne Stolsworth (West Rowan) and Hayden Simmerson (Carson) dominated on the mound, striking out 14 while allowing two hits. Simmerson (1-1) got the win when Matthew Connolly (West Rowan) scored in the ninth.