The Tribe Captures SAC Tournament Title
By Travis McSweeney
May 3, 2010
Filed under Sports, Sports Center
The Tribe entered the South Atlantic Conference tournament as the number three seed and takes on the number four seed in the conference, Carson-Newman, for game one.
Prior to the tournament the South Atlantic Conference announced All-Conference Honors. From Catawba, Nathan Furr, Trevor Mullins, Wil Honeycutt, Craig Lyerly, and Wade Moore all made First Team All-Conference. Wade Moore and Craig Lyerly both made the All-Conference Gold Glove Team. Nathan Furr was also awarded SAC Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year also went to Catawba’s own, Garrett Furr.
Catawba faced off against Carson-Newman at 7pm on Thursday night. Trevor Mullins took the mound for game one and tossed six strong innings only giving up three runs on four hit as well as striking out six to earn the win and improve to 8-2 on the year. Travis McSweeney came in relief in the 7th to work out of a jam. Clay Watson came in behind McSweeney and Wil Honeycutt completed the rest of the game behind Watson.
Offensive production came from Craig Lyerly who knocked around two triples. Josh Hohn, Corey Parker and Garrett Furr all had two hits apiece. John Neese slugged a two run homer and Hohn and Lyerly both had RBIs as well as Brett Underwood. Catawba took game one 12-5.
Catawba took on Tusculum for game two and would eventually be Catawba’s toughest game of the tournament. Nick Lomascolo took the mound against the Pioneers and tossed a stellar eight innings allowing no earned runs and striking out seven to earn the win to improve to 6-2. Wil Honeycutt came in relief to work out of a jam in the 9th to earn his fourth save of the year.
The Tribe struck first in the 3rd inning, scoring two runs off a two out double by Ryan Bostian to put the Indians ahead. The Pioneers scored their only runs in the 4th when the Indians committed an error with two outs and Paul Finger from Tusculum hit a two run homer. Josh Hohn put the Indians back on top in the 6th with a solo homer to right field. Ryan Bostian had another two out double in the 7th to increase the lead by two runs. That would be enough to ensure a 4-2 victory for Catawba.
The Indians would take on Lincoln Memorial University for the semifinal game. Clay Watson would get the start on the bump and would go the distance pitching a superb game allowing only one earned run and collected three strike outs. Watson improves to 3-0 on the year.
The Indians offense put together a four-run first inning with two outs that was sparked by a bunt hit from Craig Lyerly. Garrett Furr singled home a run after a walk and Zeb Link singled home two more after an error by the Railsplitters. Ryan Bostian had three hits, Garrett Furr and Lyerly both had two hits apiece and Brett Underwood also had two RBIs. The Tribe would go onto win 6-2 and advance to the championship game against Mars Hill.
Brett Hatley got the start for the championship game. Hatley worked through three and two-thirds innings and was relieved by Travis McSweeney. McSweeney posted four and one-third innings of scoreless baseball to earn the Tribe the win. Keith Carrigan tossed a scoreless 9th to secure the win. McSweeney improves to 4-3 on the season.
The Indians stuck it to Mars Hill by jumping out to an early 6-1 lead. Ryan Bostian had four hits and six RBIs in the championship game to help the Tribe. Wade Moore had two-run double and Craig Lyerly singled home two more runs to put the Indians up 9-2. Garrett Furr, Zeb Link, and Brett Underwood all have two hits apiece. The Indians eventually would go onto win the SAC Tournament Title 16-5.
Nick Lomascolo, Clay Watson, Wil Huneycutt and Craig Lyerly all earned All-Tournament Team honors. Ryan Bostian was awarded Tournament MVP for his performance in the conference tournament.
By clinching the conference title, the Indians earned an automatic bid to the South East Regional Tournament.
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