KANNAPOLIS – 25
th-ranked UNC Pembroke rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game in the 8
th, and then used a
Michael Dolberry II solo blast in the 11
th to take the lead for good as the Braves took down 19
th-ranked Catawba 5-3 in non-conference action Tuesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark, the home stadium of the Single-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.
Kody O'Connor tacked on a solo homer of his own in the 11
th for good measure, while
Kasen McCawley,
Luke Barrow, and
Chase Jernigan combined to go the last 7 1/3 innings out of the pen, allowing just three hits and one run.
The Braves (32-11) improved to 33-29 in the all-time series against the Indians (32-11), and swept the season series for the second straight year. The Black & Gold defeated Catawba at Sammy Cox Field, also an 11-inning affair, back in late March.
The Braves will wrap up their road trip this weekend, as they head to Bristol, Tenn. for a Conference Carolinas series against King with a doubleheader Saturday set for a 1 p.m. start, with Game 3 slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.
| GAME SUMMARY |
| FINAL SCORE |
UNC Pembroke 5, Catawba 3 |
| PITCHERS |
WP: Chase Jernigan (2-1) LP: Carson Edmiston (0-2) Save: None |
| RECORDS |
UNC Pembroke 32-11; Catawba 32-11 |
| KEY INNINGS |
| BOT 4 |
Catawba got on the board first, using an RBI ground out from Ty Hubbard and an RBI single from Levi Perrell to take a 2-0 lead. |
| TOP 7 |
After Catawba tacked on a run in the 6th, UNCP started its comeback with a 2-out RBI single from Joey Rezek to score Michael Dolberry II after he tripled. |
| TOP 8 |
Blake Hinson led off with a double, and Morgan Padgett would drive him home with an RBI double. Ashton Donathan followed with an RBI single up the middle scoring Padgett and tying the game at 3. |
| TOP 11 |
Dolberry quickly gave the Braves their first lead, depositing the second pitch of the inning over the wall down the left field line. Kody O'Connor added to the lead, blasting a no-doubter to right field to make it 5-3. |
| UNCP LEADERS |
CAT LEADERS |
Michael Dolberry II 2-6, 3B, HR, RBI
Blake Hinson 2-5, 2 2B
Kody O'Connor 1-4, HR, 2 BB, RBI
Kasen McCawley, Luke Barrow, Chase Jernigan 7.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 8 K
|
Levi Perrell 3-6, 2 SB
Dylan Driver 1-3, 3 BB |
| UP NEXT |
| The Braves will wrap up their eight-game road trip this weekend, as they head to Bristol, Tenn. for a Conference Carolinas series against King with a doubleheader Saturday set for a 1 p.m. start, with Game 3 slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. |
| BACK THE BRAVES |
| Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Baseball program by joining the Braves Club, or by making a gift directly to the program. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu. To make a monetary gift, visit UNCPBraves.com/Give and indicate "baseball team" in notes section. |
