Central, S.C. – In their final home series of the season, Southern Wesleyan split against the Claflin Panthers.  The Warriors fell 2-1 in game one, before winning game two 6-2.

In game one, Lizzie Fela led the Warriors in hits, getting two in the game. Sara Sweatt led in stolen bases having the only stolen base of the game for the Warriors.  Both Lexi Thompson and Maddie Ward contributed sacrifice bunts in the game.  Lucy Wolff started game one, going 7.0 innings and striking out four batters.

Southern Wesleyan posted five hits in the second game with Maddie Ward leading the Warriors with two hits including a double. Ward also led the Warriors in RBI's having two in the game.  Kali Berrigan and Michaela Wickham both hit sacrifice bunts while Shelby Stroud contributed a sacrifice fly.  Hunter Hoskins pitched all of game two for the Warriors, striking out three batters while allowing eight hits.

Game Vitals:

Game One: Claflin 2, Southern Wesleyan 1

Game Two: Southern Wesleyan 6, Claflin 2

Record: Southern Wesleyan (9-35), Claflin (28-16)

Coach Reininga Says…

"I am very proud of how the team competed today!  They battled together and with class!  It was an awesome way to send off our amazing senior class!"

How It Happened

Game One:

The Warriors were first to put themselves on the board after Sara Sweatt singled and stole a base putting her on second with Lizzie Fela up to bat. Fela hit a single and advanced Sweatt to third base. After going back and forth Fela was tagged out on her way to second, but allowed time for Sweatt to advance home and put the Warriors up 1-0.

The Panthers struck in the top of the third when their center fielder hit a single with an error on the play that put her on second. The first baseman came to bat with two outs on the board and hit a two-run home run that put the Panthers in the lead and would ultimately end the game with a score of 2-1

Game Two:

The Warriors started off strong after Sara Sweatt reached on a bunted ball. Kali Berrigan advanced Sweatt to second base on a sacrifice bunted to put a Warrior in scoring position and bring Lizzie Fela up to bat.  Fela would get hit by a pitch and then both runners would advance a base when Maddie Ward struck out swinging. With Tiffany Cathey up to bat, a passed ball brought Sweatt home and put the Warriors up 1-0.

The Panthers retaliated quickly in the top of the second when their first baseman singled and brought their pitcher up to bat. The pitcher singled, but was deep enough for the first baseman to advance her way home and tie the game 1-1.

The game flat-lined until the bottom of the fourth when the Warriors loaded the bases after Shelby Stroud, Sara Sweatt, and Kali Berrigan all walked. Lizzie Fela came to bat and got hit by the pitch to bring Stroud home. Maddie Ward came to bat next and hit a double that brought both Sweatt and Berrigan home and gave the Warriors a 4-1 lead over the Panthers.

The Warriors struck again in the bottom of the fifth when Becca White made it to first after a bunt single and advanced to second after Michaela Wickham hit a sacrifice bunt. While Kelly Cooper was at bat, White advanced to third on a passed ball.  With White at Third, Shelby Stroud hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring White home and extend the Warriors lead to 5-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, Maddie Ward was hit by the pitch and bring up Tiffany Cathey. Cathey singled, moving Ward to second. Becca White came to bat next and was walked to load up the bases for Michaela Wickham. With Wickham at the plate, a wild pitch was thrown that brought Ward home and put the Warriors at a 6-1 advantage. In the top of the seventh, after 3 singles that loaded the bases, the second baseman hit a sacrifice fly that scored a Panther.  However, the Warriors would win the final game of the series in a final score of 6-2.

What's Next:

The Warriors will play their last game of the season Saturday, April 22 when they hit the road to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet at 1pm and 3pm.