HICKORY, NC -- The Patrick & Henry Community College Patriots split a Region 10 Division II West doubleheader with conference opponent Catawba Valley Saturday afternoon at Henkel-Alley Field, taking game one 9–2 before falling 9–8 in walk-off fashion in the nightcap.

With the split, Patrick & Henry moves to 10–7 overall and 8–3 in Region 10 DII West play, while Catawba Valley improves to 7–1 in conference.

In the opener, the Patriots used a late offensive surge to pull away. P&H first broke through in the fourth inning when freshman Colby Rall (Wyoming, DE) doubled to score a run. The Patriots added insurance late, erupting for five runs in the ninth inning to secure the 9–2 victory. Rall drove in a run with a single before sophomore Brennan Helms (Fort Mill, SC) delivered the big blow with a grand slam to right field.

Redshirt freshman Hunter DePriest (Alleghany, VA) earned the win on the mound, allowing seven hits and two runs over five innings while striking out two and walking two. Sophomore Brody Owens (Charlotte, NC) started the game and set the tone early, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four.

The Patriots collected 13 hits in the opener. Rall and sophomore Bryson Redmond (Bluefield, WV) each recorded three hits, while Helms drove in four runs from the ninth spot in the lineup. DePriest also added two hits at the plate. P&H played a clean defensive game with no errors, while sophomore catcher Dylan Howell (Weston, FL) led the team with nine defensive chances.

Game two turned into a back-and-forth offensive battle. Catawba Valley struck first with a run in the opening inning and built a 6–0 lead through four innings behind timely extra-base hits. The Patriots responded in a big way in the sixth, scoring five runs on seven hits to cut the deficit to one. Redshirt freshman Hunter DePriest drove in a run with a single, freshman Josh Hall Jr. (Lynchburg, VA) added an RBI single, sophomore Evan Androvett (Dallas, TX) doubled home a run, and sophomore Austin MacAnanny (Mt. Pleasant, SC) delivered a two-run double.

Patrick & Henry surged ahead in the seventh inning when Hall Jr. doubled in two runs and sophomore Brady Davenport (Little Mountain, SC) added an RBI single to give the Patriots an 8–6 lead.

Catawba Valley answered in the bottom half of the inning. A passed ball brought home a run before Perez connected on a two-run walk-off home run to left field to give the Red Hawks the 9–8 victory.

The Patriots tallied 12 hits in the second game, led by Hall Jr., who went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in from the heart of the lineup. Redmond, Davenport, and Androvett each recorded multi-hit games.

The series will conclude Sunday when the Patriots and Red Hawks face off in the rubber match at 12 p.m. at Henkel-Alley Field in Hickory, N.C.

For complete recaps, stats, and schedules, visit phccsports.com.