No. 19 Gaston College records another DH sweep

No. 19 Gaston College continued its impressive start to the 2026 season with another doubleheader sweep, this time by 5-0 and 10-0 scores over Region 10 league rival USC Union on Saturday afternoon at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

"Our two pitchers were 'lights out' and we got a lot of good swings from our hitters," said Rhinos coach Michael Steuerwald, whose team improved to 30-3 overall and 4-0 in conference action.

The league doubleheader sweep increases Gaston College's league winning streak to 28 games dating to April 2024.

In the opener, Aidan Ledbetter threw 6 1/3 perfect innings before settling for a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and Alexa Bianchi-Rossi and McKenna Jones hit home runs to power the Rhinos' offense.

In the nightcap, the offense erupted for 14 hits led by two hits from Bianchi-Rossi, Emery Skinner, Jalyn Kopp and Katelyn Brandon and Sophia Crist threw a two-hitter in the five-inning contest with eight strikeouts.

"Our offense really came alive," Steuerwald said. "And those pitchers threw really well and we played, top to bottom, great offensive games today."

Gaston College has an unusual upcoming schedule as it host non-league rival Brunswick Community College Thursday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at CaroMont Health then is off until March 25 when it'll play eight games in a five-day period