Softball sweeps UNC Pembroke Sunday

Salisbury, N.C. —- The Catawba College softball team picked up two more wins on Sunday, defeating UNC Pembroke 6-2 and 8-0 in five innings to win their 10th game out of the last 12. Catawba improves to 13-7 overall, while the Braves drop to 5-14 on the year.

Alex Baquie pitched another complete game for Catawba in game one, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk, striking out a career-high 10 batters in the performance. She earned her ninth of the season in the effort to improve to an impressive 9-2 on the season.

Riley Tucker led the way for Catawba offensively, collecting two hits and driving in two runs. Christina Brendle, Kary Hales, Bri Gallagher, Aniyah King and Elizabeth Parrish joined her with two hits apiece.

Each of Catawba's first three batters reached base in the bottom of the first, as Tucker's RBI single up the middle scored Courtnee Carter. Tucker later scored Brendle on another RBI single in the third inning to give Catawba a 2-0 lead.

The Catawba Indians doubled the lead in the fourth, as Savanna Balderston knocked an RBI double to center field and Hales scored her with an RBI single.

UNCP got a run back in the fifth, but Balderston's sac fly to right center in the fifth scored King and Carter drove in another to give Baquie plenty of insurance.

Catawba made quick work in game two, as Savannah Beaver picked up the win in the circle, pitching four shutout innings while allowing just two hits. 

Tucker drove in two more, while Gallgher and Molly Strider picked up a pair of RBI as well, as Catawba wrapped up the 8-0 run-rule win in five innings.

Catawba returns to South Atlantic Conference play on Wednesday, traveling to Mars Hill for a doubleheader set to start at 1 p.m.