Staff report

CHINA GROVE — Carson beat South Rowan 6-4 in a South Piedmont Conference baseball game on Tuesday, and the surging Cougars now have won eight of their last nine outings.

Carson stood 4-7 after a one-run loss to the Raiders on March 21, but has turned things around in a big way under first year head coach JC Alexander.

Kendal Sifford (8-2) was the winning pitcher for Carson (12-8, 10-5) and has been on the winning side of eight straight decisions, but he had to battle for this one. Sifford lasted five innings, struck out three, walked one and allowed seven hits and three earned runs.

Corbin Hales was sharp in the sixth and seventh to earn a save.

Cam Williamson had the key hit, a two-run double that broke a 3-all tie in the fourth and put the Cougars ahead to stay. Williamson had three hits and three RBIs.

Ryan Snyder had two hits, including a double. Jayden Goff scored two runs.

Matt Overcash started on the mound for South. Colton Helms relieved in the third inning and took the loss.

Conner Coy had two doubles and two RBIs for the Raiders (11-10, 8-7). Davis Kemp also had two doubles. Macon Fuller had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs.

Carson has moved up to 12th in the 3A West RPI rankings. Four straight losses have knocked South Rowan down to 29th, and the Raiders really can use a win on Wednesday when they play A.L. Brown. South hosts Lake Norman Charter on Friday to finish the SPC regular season.

Carson is at Mount Pleasant on Wednesday and wraps up SPC play at Northwest Cabarrus on Friday.