Top-ranked Gaston College's offense stays hot, extends winning streak to 21 games

Top-ranked Gaston College reached double figures for the fourth time in five games as it rolled to a 19-8 victory at Catawba Valley Community College in a game shortened to eight innings by the 10-run mercy rule.

The victory improved the Rhinos to 30-2 overall and increased their winning streak to 21. The school record of 22 could be reached on Wednesday when Gaston College plays at Patrick & Henry Community College at 3 p.m.

Gaston College is ranked No. 1 by Dream Big Athletics and is No. 2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association, 2-Year Baseball and Perfect Game polls.

The Rhinos had 13 hits and drew 13 walks and one hit batter as they scored in five of eight innings highlighted by a four-run second inning, seven-run sixth and five-run eighth.

"They've been really locked in the last few games," Gaston College head coach Shohn Doty said of his offense. "And I know we're capable of doing that."

Trevor Lucas (3 hits, 2 RBIs, 2 walks), Trent Murchison (3 hits, 1 RBI, 2 walks), Ben Karpowicz (2 hits, 4 RBIs, double, 1 walk), Seth Christmas (2 hits, 3 RBIs, double, 2 walks) and Sean Sullivan (3-run double) led the Gaston College offense.

Karpowicz's two-run double in the third gave Gaston College the lead for good at 3-2 and Sullivan's three-run double in the eighth capped the five-run eighth inning.

Starter and winner Isaac Williams (2 1/3 innings) picked up the win and was the first of four pitchers that yielded 14 hits, four walks and two hit batters; Austin Renn (2 innings), Shane Thorson (1 2/3 innings) and J.J. DeVos (2 innings) were the other pitchers.

"It's like I told the team after the game," Doty said. "Baseball is a funny game and things run in cycles. We've pitched at a really, really high high level but we've hit a skid here where we haven't.
"We've just got to keep working to get better. And, at the end of the day, we won the game and that's all that matters."

After Wednesday's game at Patrick & Henry, the Rhinos return to Region 10 Division I league action with Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. home doubleheaders against USC Salkehatchie.