Catawba Stays Alive with Dramatic 10-9 Walk-Off Win Over Point Loma

CARY, N.C. -- Facing elimination at the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championships, the Catawba College Baseball Indians erased a five-run deficit, survived a ninth-inning rally by Point Loma, and scored twice in the bottom of the ninth for a thrilling 10-9 victory Monday night in Cary, North Carolina.

Point Loma appeared to be in control early, building a 5-0 lead through four innings behind four RBIs from Hank Smith. Catawba responded with its biggest inning of the season in the fifth, sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring seven runs to take a 7-5 lead. Hunter Atkins ignited the rally with a two-run homer before the Indians drew a series of key walks and capped the frame with Atkins' two-run single that put Catawba in front.

The Indians added another run in the sixth and carried an 8-6 advantage into the ninth, but Point Loma refused to go away. Josiah Rodriguez delivered a two-run single to tie the game before Smith tripled home the go-ahead run, giving the Sea Lions a 9-8 lead and putting Catawba's season on the brink.

Catawba answered immediately. Logan Dyer drew a leadoff walk and Parker Styborski entered as a pinch runner. Brandon Crabtree then ripped a game-tying double down the left-field line. After a flyout moved the winning run to third, Atkins delivered again, lining a single up the middle to score Crabtree and complete the dramatic walk-off victory.

Atkins finished with one of the best performances of the championship, going 5-for-5 with a home run, five RBIs, and the game-winning hit. Crabtree added two RBIs, while Dyer reached base five times via walks.

On the mound, Joe Burleyson provided critical relief, throwing five innings to keep the Indians in the game after the early deficit. Colt Wilkins recorded the final out of the ninth and was credited with the victory, improving to 12-2.

The win improved Catawba to 49-13 and kept the Indians alive in the national championship bracket, while Point Loma fell to 50-13. Catawba will move on to play Tampa tomorrow at 6 p.m. The Spartans are unbeaten so far so Catawba will have to win twice to advance.