Rowan County Roundup: Carson Stuns East Rowan, East Softball Keeps Rolling, Catawba Falls to Lenoir-Rhyne

By RCW Sports Staff
April 9, 2025

Rowan County teams took the field across the region Tuesday, and the results brought drama, dominance, and some hard-fought setbacks.

Carson Upsets East Rowan in Baseball Pitchers’ Duel

At Staton Field, Carson baseball pulled off a statement 3-1 victory over East Rowan, snapping the Mustangs’ five-game home win streak in a tightly contested South Piedmont Conference battle.

Kendal Sifford was lights out for the Cougars, tossing a complete game while scattering six hits and allowing zero earned runs. He kept the Mustangs’ bats quiet with a poised effort, striking out three and walking three.

Offensively, Carson’s Corbin Hales led the charge, going 1-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. TJ Harris and Maverick Walters each chipped in RBIs to help Carson improve to 9-8 on the season.

East Rowan’s Harrison Ailshie was excellent in defeat, striking out nine and giving up just one earned run in a complete-game effort. The Mustangs fall to 15-4 but remain among the conference’s top contenders.

East Rowan Softball Keeps Cruising

In the circle and at the plate, the East Rowan softball team continued their dominant 2025 campaign with a resounding 10-0 win over Carson. The Mustangs improved to 13-2 with their tenth win of six or more runs, once again showcasing why they’re among the elite in the area.

East’s bats erupted early and often, while their defense blanked the Cougars, who drop to 2-11 on the year. The Mustangs continue to roll heading into the heart of SPC play.

Salisbury Tennis Sweeps South Davidson

The Salisbury boys’ tennis team delivered a commanding performance in a Central Carolina Conference doubleheader sweep of South Davidson. The Hornets showed depth across their lineup and solidified their place atop the league standings as they eye postseason play.

Catawba Baseball Falls to Lenoir-Rhyne in Top-25 Matchup

In a South Atlantic Conference showdown of nationally ranked programs, No. 23 Catawba College dropped a 7-4 contest to No. 16 Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory.

The Indians jumped out to a 3-0 lead through three innings behind RBI hits from Hunter Atkins, James Dunlap, and Nathan Chrismon. But the Bears answered with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by Cole Stanford’s two-run double, and never looked back.

Atkins and Chrismon both had multi-hit games for Catawba, while Ben Major pitched four solid innings before the bullpen faltered. Lenoir-Rhyne’s Mackenzie Wainwright homered and scored three runs in the Bears’ comeback.

The loss drops Catawba to 26-11 on the year. They’ll look to bounce back later this week in more SAC action.