We show the first direct experimental correlation between the presence of closed core screw dislocations in 6H-SiC epilayers with recombination centers, as well as with some of the small growth pits on the epilayer surface in lightly-doped 6H-SiC Schottky diodes. At every SWBXT-identified closed core screw dislocation, an EBIC image showed a dark spot indicating a recombination center, and Nomarski optical microscope and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) images showed a corresponding small growth pit with a sharp apex on the surface of the epilayer.