MARION, N.C. — The Catawba Valley Community College softball team's 2026 season came to an end on Friday in the Region 10 tournament being held at Big League Camp.
The sixth-seeded Red Hawks opened Region 10 tournament play with a win Thursday, knocking off No. 3 seed Cleveland Community College before battling against two higher‑seeded opponents in a competitive double‑elimination run that concluded Friday.
No. 6 Catawba Valley 3, No. 3 Cleveland 0 (game one)
Behind a dominant performance from sophomore ace Reagan Garrett, the Red Hawks opened the tournament with a shutout victory over the third‑seeded Yetis.
Garrett tossed a complete‑game gem, allowing six hits with no walks and three strikeouts. She also sparked the decisive sixth‑inning rally, driving in Alexa Moya with a single to center to break the scoreless tie. Moments later, Courtney Dean delivered a two‑run double to right, scoring Finlee Young and Garrett to extend the lead to 3-0.
CVCC collected 10 hits, including multi‑hit efforts from Garrett, Dean and Andi Stroud.
No. 2 Pitt 6, No. 6 Catawba Valley 0 (game two)
The Red Hawks continued to compete with grit in Thursday's second game, but No. 2 seed Pitt Community College capitalized on defensive miscues to pull away. All six Pitt runs were unearned.
Red Hawks starting pitcher Paige Ford battled through early pressure, and Mallory Hines steadied the game with 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.
Young, Moya and Stroud each recorded hits as CVCC continued to pressure Pitt's defense despite the shutout.
No. 5 Bryant & Stratton 4, No. 6 Catawba Valley 1 (game three)
Facing elimination Friday, the Red Hawks fought throughout a tight matchup with No. 5 seed Bryant & Stratton before ultimately falling by three runs to close their tournament run.
Ford provided the highlight of the day for CVCC, launching a solo home run to center in the fifth inning — one of just two Red Hawk hits in the game. Gionna Merhtens added a double, while Garrett went the distance in the circle, allowing eight hits and four earned runs with one strikeout and no walks.
CVCC's defense held strong through the middle innings, and Garrett retired eight straight batters at one point, but an early three‑run surge from the Bobcats proved too much to overcome.
The Red Hawks close their 2026 softball campaign 15–23 overall record.