PEMBROKE – The 16th-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth to forge an early 9-2 lead, but visiting Catawba sent 18 batters to the plate in a 13-run fifth inning to key a 16-10 upset win over the Braves on Wednesday evening at Cox Field.

The setback marked the second-straight home loss for the Braves (25-10) who lost for the first time this season when scoring more than six runs. It was the 12th win in the last 14 outings for Catawba (21-13).

Daniel Fraga (3-for-5, R) and Ben Schmucker (3-for-4, 2 R) both turned in 3-hit nights to lead a 15-hit attack for the hosts, while Jordan Edgerton and Dalton Knight tallied two hits apiece. Julio Zubillaga drove in two runs and scored twice on a 4-for-5 hitting line for the Indians.

Brandon Estrain (0-2), the second of four pitchers in the top of the fifth for UNCP, saddled the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) on two hits and a trio of walks while recording just one out. Michael Trombino (1-2) grabbed the win for Catawba after turning in four hitless innings of relief. He also struck out two.

Catawba cut into an early 3-0 deficit with two runs in the fourth, but the Braves answered with six runs of their own to take a seemingly commanding seven-run advantage. The Indians sent their entire order to the plate and scored nine times before the Black & Gold was able to record an out in the fifth, and a costly fielding error – one of three in the frame for the hosts – led to four additional runs.

UNCP will close out a nine-game home stand on Friday when they welcome U.S. 74 nemesis Wingate (23-10) to Cox Field for a 6 p.m. tilt. The Braves will trek to Wingate on Saturday to complete the home-and-away series with a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Ron Christopher Stadium.