HICKORY, N.C. — The Catawba Valley Community College sophomore team celebrated Sophomore Day on Saturday at Stanford Park by sweeping a Region 10 doubleheader against visiting Fayetteville Technical.
The day began with a pregame ceremony honoring the program's four sophomores — Gionna Merhtens, Finlee Young, Reagan Garrett and Courtney Dean — and ended with two victories that clinched a Region 10 Tournament berth.
Catawba Valley 8, Fayetteville Tech 2 (game one)
Catawba Valley produced eight runs on nine hits and drew eight walks to come away with the six-run victory in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
Alexa Moya led the charge for CVCC with two hits and two RBIs, while Reagan Garrett went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
Sophomore Gionna Merhtens also reaching base four times from the leadoff spot, scoring twice, and adding a stolen base. Finlee Young added an RBI sac fly and two walks, while Genesis Lebron drove in a run off the bench.
In the circle, Garrett was in control from start to finish, tossing a complete-game effort. She allowed just five hits and two runs while striking out five and allowing no walks.
Catawba Valley 9, Fayetteville Tech 1 (game two - six innings)
The Red Hawks carried their momentum from game one into game two, erupting for nine runs on 14 hits in a 9-1 run-rule victory.
During the contest, Merhtens launched a third-inning home run that etched her name in the record books. The blast marked her 14th career home run, breaking the previous program record set by Annie Andrews in 2023.
Catawba Valley's offense remained relentless throughout the game, with eight different players recording hits. Young drove in three runs on two hits, while Andi Stroud added a double and two RBIs. Lebron and Samantha Gregory also contributed RBIs as part of the balanced attack.
Alexa Moya, Courtney Dean and Reagan Garrett each added multiple hits for the Red Hawks.
Catawba Valley's Paige Ford earned the win in the circle, allowing just two hits and one run over five innings while walking one.
The Red Hawks now await their fate for a spot in the Region 10 Tournament, which scheduled for April 30 through May 2 at Big League Camp in Marion, N.C.