Softball sweeps USC Aiken for first wins of year

Aiken, S.C. —- The Catawba College softball team earned its first wins under first-year head coach Brady Tigert on Sunday, sweeping USC Aiken on the road. The Catawba Indians improve to 2-2 on the year, while the Pacers drop to 0-4 on the young season.

Catawba took game one 7-1, behind Courtnee Carter's 2-for-4 day with a homerun, double and three RBI. Brianna Gallagher also hit a solo shot in the seventh inning. Alexandra Baquie got the win in the circle, tossing a complete game, allowing just one run and striking out six.

Kary Hales got the scoring started for Catawba in the third on a sac fly before Shi Cain answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth for USCA. Hales later doubled in the fifth on an, scoring Carter to take a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, Savannah Beaver scored Hales to double the lead.

Catawba broke the game open in the sixth, when Carter hit a three-run homer to take a 6-1 lead. Gallagher's solo homerun capped the scoring in the Lady Indians' first win of 2023.

Savanna Balderston put the Catawba Indians on the board to start the second game, hitting an RBI double down the left field line. Molly Strider doubled the lead on a solo homerun in the top of the fourth. They added their third run via Carter's single to right, scoring Balderston.

Beaver and Emma Zieg dominated the circle in game number two, combining to go seven innings, allowing just two hits. 

Catawba opens up their 2023 home campaign on Wednesday, hosting Francis Marion for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.