College softball: Catawba loses 2, falls to 6-6

Published 9:18 am Monday, February 24, 2020

Catawba sports information

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.  —  Catawba came up short in both games on Sunday at the YHC Tournament at Rivers Field. The Catawba Indians fell 9-1 to top-ranked and host Young Harris (12-0) before being edged 12-11 in eight innings by Shorter (1-8). The Catawba Indians stand at 6-6 on the season.

Catawba rallied from an 11-4 deficit after four innings to force an extra frame against Shorter, but after surrendering a run in the eighth the Indians were unable to get back tied.

Six errors helped put Catawba in the early hole, but the offense got the Lady Indians back in the game over the late innings. Kasey Rowden doubled home two in the fifth to get Catawba within 11-7. Allie Baker and Bailey Benton had RBI in the sixth to make it 11-9.

Catawba got within a run in the seventh when Sydney Goertzen stole third and came home on an error. Then with two outs, Jordan Dean tied the game on her first homer of the year.

Gracie Gibson had singled home two runs in the first after Catawba fell behind 2-0. Only two of the runs by Shorter were earned as the Hawks scored two runs in each of the first three innings and added five in the fourth.

Gibson finished with three hits, while Riley Tucker and Taylor Martin each had two. Baker drove in three runs. Madison Hunter (3-3) kept Shorter off the scoreboard late, but took the loss after surrendering the run in the eighth. Hannah Morales had three hits for Shorter.

Tucker had two hits and homered for the lone run in the opening loss of the day to No. 1 Young Harris. The Mountain Lions scored three in the first and two in each of the final three innings for the final margin. Kaylee Cook (0-1) made the start for the Indians.

Catawba is scheduled to travel to Belmont Abbey on Thursday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.