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Hickory Today
By the People, for the People
Catawba Indians Lose Series Opener at Lenoir-Rhyne
Both nationally ranked Division II baseball teams battled in close contest
Published on Feb. 28, 2026
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The Catawba Indians, ranked 3rd nationally in Division II, lost the series opener 5-3 to the 10th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne Bears on Friday. Catawba's Brandon Crabtree had a double and triple, while Hunter Atkins and Nathan Chrismon each had two hits, but the Indians couldn't overcome a decisive run scored by Lenoir-Rhyne in the 5th inning. Catawba pitcher Colt Wilkins struck out 9 batters but took his first loss of the season.
Why it matters
This was a matchup between two of the top Division II baseball programs in the country, with major implications for conference standings and postseason positioning. The loss drops Catawba to 11-3 overall and 6-1 in conference play, while Lenoir-Rhyne improves to 11-1 and 6-1.
The details
Catawba took an early 1-0 lead, but Lenoir-Rhyne responded with 3 runs in the 3rd inning to go up 3-1. The Indians tied it at 3-3 in the 4th, but Lenoir-Rhyne scored the decisive run in the 5th to make it 4-3. The Bears added an insurance run in the 7th to seal the victory.
- The series opener was played on Friday, February 28, 2026.
- Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne will play a doubleheader on Saturday, February 29, 2026 starting at 5 p.m.
The players
Brandon Crabtree
A Catawba player who had a double and triple in the game.
Hunter Atkins
A Catawba player who had two hits in the game.
Nathan Chrismon
A Catawba player from South Rowan who had two hits in the game.
Colt Wilkins
The Catawba pitcher who struck out 9 batters but took his first loss of the season.
Lenoir-Rhyne Bears
The 10th-ranked Division II baseball team that won the series opener against 3rd-ranked Catawba.
What’s next
Catawba will look to bounce back in the doubleheader against Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, which starts at 5 p.m.
The takeaway
This was a hard-fought battle between two of the top Division II baseball programs, with Lenoir-Rhyne edging out Catawba in the series opener. The Indians will have a chance to even the series in Saturday's doubleheader as they aim to maintain their position among the nation's elite teams.
