TAMPA -- The Tusculum Pioneers dropped a 5-1 decision to Catawba College Friday afternoon in the NCAA Division II South Regional Baseball Tournament at the University of Tampa Stadium.

The two South Atlantic Conference rivals battled as Catawba scored a solo run in the first and two more in the second to take a lead which they never relinquished. Catawba opened up a 5-0 lead after six innings as Alex Fairweather went the distance on the mound, scattering six hits while striking out six and walking only one.

Rob Currie suffered the mound loss for Tusculum, going six innings and giving up the five Catawba runs.

The Pioneers finally got on the board in the top of the ninth when Aaron Hudgins singled to start the inning. Christian Rosa followed with a double. Hudgins scored on a groundout by Carlos Rivera, but Fairweather got out of additional trouble with a strikeout and a fly ball.

David Thomas, who had three hits on the day, slugged a two-run homer in the second for Catawba, and Jerry Sands belted a solo shot in the fifth.

The Pioneers drop to the loser's bracket and will play Carson-Newman again today at 3 p.m.