CENTRAL, S.C. – Matt Buss tied a career-high with nine strikeouts as the Warriors came away with a 7-2 win in the first game of a three-game set against Emmanuel at Connor Field on Friday.

Buss struck out nine in six innings of work, allowing just five hits. He improved to 2-2 on the year despite walking four. The Lions stranded nine on base as Buss worked out of jams in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

The Warriors struck first, scoring twice in the second as Julio Lara led off the inning with his first homer of the season, a shot to left to get the scoring started. Johnny Ponder followed and was plunked by Emmanuel starter Mason Tyler. John Garrett and Trevor Walker followed later in the inning with back-to-back singles that brought Ponder home as the Warriors went up 2-0.

Emmanuel put three on in the third via a walk and two singles but were unable to score as Buss got Trent Jones to fly out to end the threat. In the fourth the Lions put two on in scoring position but again couldn't get the hit to score a run as Buss struck out Hunter Barton.

The Lions tied the game in the fifth as Daniel Shealy came through with a two-run two-out single to right after Buss walked two and hit a batter in the inning. The Warriors responded in the bottom half after a lead off triple from Jason Moldenhauer and a sac fly by Drew Carson.

SWU added three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh. A wild play in the sixth brought home an insurance run. Ponder was stationed at second and came all the way home on a wild pitch as the ball squirted by Shealy and he couldn't find it. Walker and Moldenhauer followed with run-scoring hits. Ponder added an RBI double in the seventh.

The Warriors collected 11 hits in the game, led by Walker and Josh Shimp who each had three. Both Shimp and Walker also scored a run as Walker drove in two. Moldenhaueralso had a multi-hit effort, scored once and drove in one.

Buss tied his career high of nine strikeouts, a total he set in his first start for the Warriors back on Feb. 1, 2014 against Martin Methodist.

Mike Batten pitched the final three innings to earn his first save. The freshman allowed just one walk and struck out six in his performance.

The Warriors and Lions wrap up their series on Saturday with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m.