CENTRAL, S.C. – Southern Wesleyan softball picked up a big win over No. 12 USC Beaufort in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday 12-11 in game two after dropping game one 6-4.
The Warriors pick up their first win over a ranked team since defeating Brenau last March when they were ranked No. 12. SWU will be back in action on Sunday, hosting Coastal Georgia in the SSAC opener at 2 p.m. at Varsity Field.
Game One
Southern Wesleyan scored first and had a chance late but two big innings gave the Sand Sharks the edge, 6-4, in game one. Allison Barbee blasted her second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first to give SWU an early 2-0 lead.
USCB answered with three runs in each of the second and third innings as the Sand Sharks collected five of their seven hits in those two innings. The Warriors didn't help themselves much either with three walks and two hit batters during that time.
The Warriors chipped away with a run in the third and another in the fourth. Allison Parker led off the third with a single and was sacrificed over to second. After a base hit by M.C. Garrett, Parker scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Barbee. In the fourth Sara Sweatt hit a one-out double to deep center in the fourth and later scored on an error after Shelby Stroud singled.
SWU had their chance in the seventh, putting the first two runners aboard with a pair of infield singles from Katie Jacoby and Parker. Unfortunately, the Warriors were unable to advance further.
Callie Wayne took the loss to fall to 1-1 after giving up five runs, five hits and three walks in two plus innings of work. Parker came in to relieve Wayne and allowed just two hits and one run over five innings. Kristy Cook got the win and improved to 6-0 on the season for USCB.
Game Two
The Warriors withstood numerous rallies by USCB to pull out a 12-11 victory over the No. 12 Sand Sharks as Allison Parker delivered a two-out bases loaded single to right to score the winning run.
SWU built an early 6-0 lead, scoring two in the first, three in the second and one in the third. Allison Barbee was in the mix all day long, picking up her first of five RBI in the first with a double. Sara Sweatt also knocked in a run in the inning with a single.
Barbee blasted her second home run of the day and third of the season in the second, a three-run shot with Katie Jacoby and Savannah Carpenter aboard. She also knocked home a run in the fifth with an RBI and finished the day with three hits, two runs scored and five RBI.
After USCB tied the game with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh the Warriors loaded the bases as M.C. Garrett and Barbee both singled to lead off the inning. After back-to-back outs, Ashleigh Wilbur walked to load the bases setting up Parker for the heroics. Parker lifted a ball over the second basemen's head to allow Garrett to score and the Warriors to win.
SWU had 14 hits on the day as Carpenter, Fela, Parker and Jacoby all had two hits. Both of Jacoby's hits were doubles as Callie Wayne and Fela all had doubles as well.
Wayne got redemption after taking the loss in game one, coming back and winning game two out of the bullpen. She pitched 1.2 innings in relief, giving up two hits and two runs to improve to 2-1. Parker got the start and pitched four innings, allowing five hits and three runs. Kristy Cook, game one's winner, took the loss for the Sand Sharks.
