Dahlonega, G.A. - Southern Wesleyan defeated the Gannon Golden Knights in a 4-0 final and then defeated the nationally ranked West Chester Golden Rams in a 4-2 final.

The Warriors collected six hits in the game against Gannon on Saturday. Lydia Clanton led the team with two hits, while Delaney Byers, Megan New, Sequoia Wingfield, and Emma Jo Wolfe each added one hit. New had the lone RBI and Byers and Taylor Le drew the only walks. Wingfield posted her first collegiate double in the contest. Byers, Wolfe, and Le each had a stolen base. Delanie Laudenbacher pitched all seven innings for the Warriors and posted seven strikeouts. 

In game two, Southern Wesleyan had seven hits. Led by Clanton with three, Byers, Ashton Martin, Emma Collins, and Addie Nugent also produced hits for the Warriors. Byers, Clanton, and Martin each had one RBI. Clanton recorded a double in the game and Nugent followed with a triple. Clanton led the team with two stolen bases and Collins had one of her own. Martin also took to the mound in the second contest as she pitched the complete game for the Warriors. She posted seven strikeouts in the win. 

Game Vitals

Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 4, Gannon 0

Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 4, West Chester 2

Records: Southern Wesleyan (4-4) Gannon (1-3) West Chester (0-1)

Coach Adkins Says...

"We played good softball teams all weekend. Anytime you can go test where your program is by playing six games against NCAA tournament teams in three days, you are going to find out where you truthfully stand. Today, we got the timely hints that we needed to score runs. It was just two really good team wins. Our pitching staff led by Coach Murray is really becoming special. They pitched excellent all weekend. I know there aren't many teams that have four pitchers start games at this point in the season. And all of ours have given us very quality starts. We look forward to a few days to prepare and then a six game home stand."

How It Happened

Game One

Delaney Byers started the bottom of the first inning with a single down the left field line. Lydia Clanton would follow with a single that would advance Byers and then a Gannon wild pitch would advance both runners. Megan New reached on a fielding error, but this would give Clanton and Byers the advantage as they went on to score and put the Warriors on the board early.

In the sixth inning, Sequoia Wingfield doubled and would advance to third on a wild pitch. Taylor Le walked and stole second and then third on a throwing error. This would score Wingfield and bring up Riley Herdliska. Herdliska reached on a Golden Knight error and Le would score to put the Warriors up 4-0. They would go on to win the game against Gannon.

Game Two

In the game against the nationally ranked West Chester Golden Rams, Addie Nugent would triple to right center in the top of the fifth. Byers would follow with a single that would bring in Nugent. In the seventh inning, Emma Collins took first on a bunt and Clanton then followed with a single that would score Collins. Byers would come in to score on a throwing error that would also move Clanton over to third. Ashton Martin's single brought in Clanton and the Warriors would lead 4-0. 

The Golden Rams would threaten would two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Warriors would end on a strikeout as they won the game, 4-2. 

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan returns to Central, S.C. on February 20 as they host the Anderson Trojans at 4 and 6 p.m. The Warriors will then host the Warrior Fastpitch Classic February 21 and 22.