Flying Eagles' offense falters in series against the Redhawks
Series Recap: Softball vs. Catawba Valley
03/29/25 | Shaun Schetka
Game 1: Southwest Virginia Drops Series Opener to Catawba Valley, 9-1
HICKORY, N.C. – Southwest Virginia Community College put up a fight early, but Catawba Valley Community College's offense proved too strong in a 9-1 loss on Friday.
The Flying Eagles struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of an error to grab a 1-0 lead. But Catawba Valley responded quickly, with Gionna Merhtens smacking a two-run triple and Courtney Dean adding an RBI groundout to put the Red Hawks ahead 3-1.
From there, Catawba Valley took control, adding two more runs in the second on a Merhtens RBI single.
Addison Culberson kept Southwest Virginia's bats quiet, throwing five hitless innings and allowing just one unearned run while striking out two. Emma Wilcox took the loss for the Flying Eagles, giving up nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Merhtens had a monster day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with five RBIs. Miranda Valerio also contributed two hits for Catawba Valley.
Game 2: Catawba Valley's Early Explosion Too Much for Southwest Virginia in 13-1 Loss
HICKORY, N.C. – A nightmare first inning doomed Southwest Virginia Community College as Catawba Valley erupted for 11 runs on their way to a 13-1 win on Saturday.
Ciera Skeens gave the Flying Eagles a bright start, driving in a run with a single in the first, but the momentum was short-lived. The Red Hawks responded with an offensive onslaught, capped by Tristan Smalling's three-run homer.
Catawba Valley tacked on two more runs in the second, and that was all they needed.
Smalling picked up the win in the circle, holding Southwest Virginia to just three hits and one run over five innings, while striking out three. Kimber Amos took the loss after allowing two runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings. Macie Adkins started the game but struggled, giving up 11 runs on nine hits in just 2/3 of an inning.
Skeens, Wilcox, and Reagan McCoy each tallied a hit for the Flying Eagles. Meanwhile, Catawba Valley's offense was relentless, racking up 15 hits, with Valerio leading the charge by going 4-for-4. Smalling drove in five runs, and the Red Hawks stole six bases.
Game 3: Southwest Virginia Struggles to Contain Catawba Valley in 17-3 Loss
HICKORY, N.C. – Southwest Virginia Community College ran into a buzzsaw on Saturday, as Catawba Valley's bats came alive in a dominant 17-3 win.
The Red Hawks wasted no time, jumping out to a big lead in the first inning thanks to a combination of clutch hitting and SWCC miscues. Kameron Bolick drove in a run with a single, and a series of defensive errors allowed Catawba Valley to pile on.
By the time the dust settled, the Flying Eagles found themselves in a deep hole. Bolick later put the game out of reach in the third inning with a three-run homer, part of an eight-run outburst for the Red Hawks.
Addison Culberson was steady in the circle for Catawba Valley, allowing seven hits and three runs over five innings. Kayllyn Vannoy took the loss for SWCC, giving up six runs (five earned) on one hit in just 1/3 of an inning.
Reagan McCoy was a bright spot for the Flying Eagles, driving in two runs, while seven different players recorded a hit.
Catawba Valley finished with 14 hits, led by Bolick's four-RBI performance and Valerio's five stolen bases.
Game 4: Southwest Virginia Shut Out as Catawba Valley Takes Series Finale, 8-0
HICKORY, N.C. – Southwest Virginia Community College couldn't get much going offensively as Catawba Valley used a big first inning to cruise to an 8-0 win on Sunday.
The Red Hawks wasted no time, jumping on the board early with five runs in the first. Miranda Valerio's sacrifice fly opened the scoring, followed by RBI singles from Courtney Dean, Tristan Smalling, and Alix Cutter.
Smalling was nearly untouchable in the circle, tossing a four-inning no-hitter while not allowing a single walk. Emma Wilcox took the loss for Southwest Virginia, allowing eight runs on eight hits over four innings, striking out one and walking five.
Cutter and Smalling led the way at the plate with two hits each, while Gionna Merhtens and Ava Parkerson each drove in two runs. The Red Hawks stayed aggressive on the bases, swiping six bags in total.
Despite the loss, Southwest Virginia played solid defense, committing no errors. Miah Mead made the most of her opportunities in the field with two putouts.
The Flying Eagles will open the home portion of their schedule when they host Cleveland CC this weekend for a four-game series. The first pitch is set for Saturday at 1:00 PM