NEWBERRY, SC -- Brian Hatley pitched a complete game victory as No. 3 seeded Catawba College knocked off No. 4 seed Tusculum College 6-2 in the winners’ bracket final of the 2002 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Baseball Tournament Saturday afternoon. The double elimination tournament is being held at Kirkland Field in conjunction with the Food Lion SAC Spring Sports Festival. Catawba (29-21) advances to Sunday’s noon championship game, while Tusculum (29-23) will have a rematch with top-seeded Carson-Newman College (No. 21 in NCAA Division II) in the elimination bracket final Saturday night.
Hatley records his third complete game of the season, scattering seven hits, walking four and striking out four to improve his record to 6-5 on the year. TC starter Jason Burleson drops to 3-4 as he went 6 1/3 innings as he allowed five runs, seven hits, walked three and fanned three batters.
The Pioneers got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning when David McMahon doubled down the right field line and later scored on Michael Holt’s RBI single for a 1-0 TC lead. The Tribe answered in the top of the fourth as they plated two runs on Mike Robbins’ two-out single to score Curt Motsinger and Spence Southard.
Tusculum tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth on Trevor Adams’ two-out single driving in Vince Stonesifer from second base. In the top of the sixth, Catawba took the lead for good on Matt Baker’s two-out single. Motsinger led off with a single, stole second and scored on one of three hits recorded by Baker on the day.
The Pioneers were in good shape to tie the game in the bottom of the frame as Casey Taylor led off with a ground rule double to left. But Hatley got three consecutive fly balls to end the TC threat. The Indians added a pair of runs in the seventh inning on a two-run triple by Chad Hill.
Hatley closed out the game limiting the Pioneers to one hit in the final three innings. Baker finished going 3-for-5 while Motsinger went 2-for-4 and stole a pair of bases. TC was led by Michael Holt’s 2-for-4 effort.
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