Staff report

GAFFNEY, S.C. — Catawba head baseball coach Jim Gantt logged his 1,000th career win on Saturday as the Indians took a doubleheader at Limestone.

While the weekend ended splendidly, it started poorly, as Catawba lost 10-0 to the Saints on Friday. Catawba gave up six runs in the second inning and managed only two hits.

It took Catawba a long time to hit on Saturday, but starting pitcher Payne Stolsworth (2-1) kept the Indians in the first game. Stolsworth (West Rowan) kept the deficit at 1-0 until Catawba exploded for eight runs in the seventh inning and went on to an 11-5 victory.

Dylan Driver (Carson) and Sam Hunter drove in three runs each. Hunter homered. Hunter Atkins had two doubles.

Gantt got his 1,000th victory in the nightcap. That was a tough 5-2 victory keyed by pitchers Casey Gouge (West Rowan) and Hayden Simmerson (Carson).

Gouge (3-0) allowed one hit in four innings. Simmerson earned a save. He dominated the last three innings of the seven-inning game with five strikeouts. He didn’t allow a hit.

Ty Hubbard (South Rowan) and Sean Shelly sparked the offense in the milestone game with homers.

Catawba (10-4, 5-1 SAC) is ranked 17th nationally. Limestone is 6-9, 2-4.

Catawba won’t play at home for a while. The Indians are at Belmont Abbey on Tuesday.