GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum shortstop Ben Scartz went 4-for-5 at the plate while TU closer Drew Sliwinski recorded five strikeouts including one for the final out of the game with the tying runs in scoring position as the Pioneers prevailed 6-4 over Catawba Monday at Pioneer Park in South Atlantic Conference baseball action.
Tusculum (7-7, 4-2 SAC) wins the rubber-game of the three-game set as the Pioneers capture a SAC series against the Catawba Indians (9-5, 1-2 SAC) for the first time since 2012. It ends a drought of nine consecutive series losses to Catawba.
TU racked up 13 hits, eight walks and a hit batsman, but the Pioneers stranded 16 runners on base, which are tied for the sixth-most in program history.
Zach Wilson, Will Samuelson and Max Schmarder each had a pair of base hits, while Zane Keener reached base four times with a single and three walks.
Catawba's Levi Perrell went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Sam Hunter recorded a pair of triples for the visitors.
The Indians got on the board with a run in the first as Hunter hit a two-out triple and Bo Rusher followed with a RBI double as Catawba led 1-0.
The Pioneers answered quickly in the bottom of the first when Keener led off with a walk, moved to second on Wilson's base hit and later score on Scartz's RBI single. TU took its first lead of the game as Absher drove in Wilson with his groundout.
Catawba regained the lead in the fifth when Logan Rogers led off with a walk and moved to second on a Tusculum error. A bunt moved the runners into scoring position and Perrell belted a two-run single as the Indians went up 3-2.
The Pioneers tied the contest at 3-3 thanks to Scartz's RBI single in the sixth. Catawba took the lead again in the seventh when Ty Hubbard reached on an error, stole second and scored on Perrell's double as Catawba went ahead, 4-3.
Tusculum took the lead in the seventh inning as Samuelson led off with a single and moved to third on Schmarder's double to left. Both would score when Luis Reyes reached on an infield throwing error to allow two runs to cross the plate as TU led 5-4.
Sliwinski took over on the mound for Caid Sanders in the eighth inning and was welcomed by Hunter as he tripled down the right field line. But Sliwinski regrouped and struck out the next three batters and strand the tying run at third.
The Pioneers tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Catcher Blaze McCauley hit a single and moved to second on Samuelson's second straight base hit. Schmarder singled to load the bases for Luis Reyes who drew a walk to bring home Tusculum's sixth run.
Sliwinski retired the first two batters in the ninth inning, but Drew Robertson and Perrell drew back-to-back walks. The would pull a double-steal to put the tying runs in scoring position. But Sliwinski would strikeout Dylan Driver looking for the final to secure his second save of the series and fourth of the season.
Tusculum pitcher Caid Sanders (1-0) picked up his first Tusculum win as he went one inning where he allowed one run on two hits. Sliwinski tossed two shutout innings where he allowed a hit and two walks.
TU starter had another quality start as he went six innings, allowed five hits, three runs, two earned, two walks and three strikeouts.
Catawba's Mason Gwyn (1-1) suffered the loss for the Indians in his one inning of work.
Tusculum returns to action on Tuesday as they will play its fourth game in three days when they host King University for a 5 p.m. contest at Pioneer Park.
