Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
CENTRAL, S.C. – Southern Wesleyan rallied in both games on Saturday but was able to take just game two against Toccoa Falls. The Warriors won the series finale 11-8 after dropping the first game of the doubleheader 10-8.
The Warriors dropped the series opener on Friday 5-2. SWU is in action again on Tuesday as they host North Georgia for a single game at 4 p.m.
Game 1
The Warriors comeback was cut short as Toccoa Falls took the second game in the three-game series in a high-scoring 10-8 slugfest. The teams combined for 20 hits in the game, seven of which were extra base hits.
Toccoa Falls got on the board first with two in the second as Michael Sneed hit a two-run homer to left field. The Warriors responded in the bottom half with three runs as Johnny Ponder doubled in a run. Later in the inning Trevor Walker singled to right to score two with two outs as the Warriors took a 3-2 lead.
The Eagles responded with a run in the third and fourth innings, followed by two in the fifth and three more in the sixth before the Warriors were able to score again. Four of those seven runs were unearned as the Warriors made three errors in the game.
The Warriors rallied in the sixth, putting up a five-spot as Michael Hyman delivered the big blow with a three-run triple over the head of the left fielder Nathan Stanley. Daniel Coleman also had an RBI in the inning as he reached on a throwing error. Josh Shimp pulled the Warriors to within one at 9-8 with a sac fly. Four of the Warriors nine hits came in the frame as the Eagles needed three pitchers to get out of the inning.
Toccoa Falls added an insurance run in the seventh as A.J. Mussler picked up an RBI with a sac fly to score Will Smith.
Ponder and Walker both had two hits in the game for the Warriors as both of Ponder's hits were doubles. Ponder also scored twice.
Hamilton Hartsell took the loss in his first start of the season, going 5.0 innings. He allowed nine hits and walked two while striking out three. Only five of the nine runs allowed were earned. Zack Oberlies allowed one run in relief, pitching 1.1 innings. Oberlies struck out two.
Dylan Powers picked up the win for the Eagles with a 5.1 inning effort, allowing seven hits, three walks and six runs. Colton Roberts picked up his second save in as many games with a 1.2 inning effort.
Game 2
A big six-run gave the Warriors an 11-5 lead as they held on for the 11-8 win to salvage one game in the three-game series. The Warriors scored nine runs in their final two at-bats to come back from down 4-2 after leading 2-0 early on.
SWU sent 10 batters to the plate in the 6th after sending nine to the plate in the 5th. Daniel Coleman blasted a two-run homer in the sixth to cap the scoring. The Warriors had four of their 13 hits in that inning as Johnny Ponder also doubled in a run. Zack Oberlies picked up an RBI with a bases loaded walk and Matt Costa knocked in one with a sac fly.
The Warriors took the early lead in the 2nd with Costa picking up the first of three RBI as he singled home Oberlies who led off the inning with a single of his own. Jason Moldenhauer put the Warriors up 2-0 in the 3rd with a double to left, scoring Mike Hyman who was hit with a pitch.
The Eagles got those runs back in the 4th to tie the game at 2-2 as a pair of walks to start the inning came back around to score. Toccoa Falls took a lead with two runs in the 5th as Tyler Rio was chased after 4.2 innings of work. The Eagles sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.
SWU answered with a three spot in the fifth as Josh Shimp and Costa each had RBIs in the inning. Daniel Williams also scored one of his two runs in the game as Johnny Ponder reached on an error.
Five players recorded two hits in the game for the Warriors. Moldenhauer had a double and a triple as he scored two times and drove in a run. Oberlies scored three times, drawing two walks and picking up a base hit. Williams had a pair of hits including a double as Costa and Trevor Walker each had a double. Costa drove in a team-high three.
Drew Carson picked up the win in relief to improve to 1-0 on the season. Carson walked one and struck out one, allowing one run but did not give up a hit. Rio made the start and went 4.2 innings allowing seven hits, four runs and three walks. The freshman struck out four. Adam Rasmussen took the loss for Toccoa Falls, pitching just the sixth where he gave up four hits, six runs and two walks.
