Central, S.C. - Southern Wesleyan defeated the Talladega Tornadoes in 12-4 and 15-1 final scores on Saturday to conclude the Warrior Fastpitch Classic.

The Warriors posted seven hits in game one on Saturday. Seniors Kali Berrigan and Riley Herdliska led the team with two hits apiece, and Lydia Clanton, Megan New, and Emma Collins each added one. As a team, the Warriors had 10 RBIs with Collins picking up three on her first homerun of the 2020 season as she would lead the team in that category. Southern Wesleyan drew 13 walks and Emma Jo Wolfe, Collins, and Haley Bertie all had stolen bases. Makayla Sexton threw the first four innings and posted one strikeout, while Martin came in to close out the last two innings and collect two strikeouts. 

In game two, the Warriors collected eight hits and scored 15 runs. Jaliyah Sanford and Berrigan led the team with two hits each while Byers, Collins, Wingfield, and Nugent contributed one hit apiece. Sanford had her first grand slam of her career and would pick up seven RBIs in game two, while Nugent also posted her first homerun of the season. Sanford would also hit for a triple and Delaney Byers would have a double. The team total of RBIs in game two were 15 and the Warriors were able to draw 12 walks. Emma Collins picked up the win after throwing three innings and striking out four, while Delanie Laudenbacher would come in as relief to close out the last two innings and strike out two batters.

Game Vitals

Final Game One: Southern Wesleyan 12, Talladega 4

Final Game Two: Southern Wesleyan 15, Talladega 1

Records: Southern Wesleyan (8-4) Talladega (0-8)

How It Happened

Game One

The Warriors would score first in game one when Kali Berrigan's single down the left field line would score Riley Herdliska. The Tornadoes would counter with a run in the top of the fourth and the score would remained tied until Talladega homered in the fifth inning and took a 4-1 lead. 

Megan New would lead off the fifth inning with a single and Ashton Martin would then take base after being hit by a pitch. Emma Collins took to the batter's box and hit her first homerun of the 2020 season to tie the game at 4-4. Haley Bertie followed Collins long-shot with a walk and would go on to steal second. Herdliska then doubled and Bertie went on to score and give the Warriors the lead. Berrigan followed with another single and Herdliska would go on to score on a throwing error by the Tornadoes third baseman. Southern Wesleyan would lead 6-4 after five innings. 

Six runs would come from the Warriors in the bottom of the sixth inning. Martin, Collins, Nugent, Byers, Berrigan, and Clanton would all score on a combination of walks drawn, wild pitches, or hit by pitches. Southern Wesleyan's aggressive at bats would allow them to win game one, 12-4.

Game Two

Southern Wesleyan had a field day in the first inning in game two, scoring 13 runs. Delaney Byers would lead off the inning with a double and Clanton and Collins would follow with walks. Byers scored on Martin's walk to load the bases. Jaliyah Sanford then hit a grand slam that scored four more runs and give her a total of 4 RBIs in her first at bat of the game. Nugent then drew a walk and Emma Jo Wolfe and Herdliska's sacrifice bunts would score her. Berrigan, Byers, and Clanton found their way on base by walk or hit by pitch. Berrigan and Byers would score on Berrigan's single to the left field corner. 

Martin then drew herself a walk and Sequoia Wingfield would come in to run for her. Sanford tripled in her second at bat and Collins, Clanton, and Wingfield scored. Nugent then had her first in the park homerun of the season and Sanford would score to put the Warriors up 13-0 after one inning.

In the bottom of the second inning, Byers took first base on a walk and would have Bethanie Perrine come in to run for her. She advanced to second as Micah Williams took first base. Perrine took third base on a fielder's choice play and would score on Wingfield's sacrifice fly. 

Talladega tacked on one run in the top of the third, but the Warriors countered again when Nugent scored on Berrigan's single and they extended their lead to 15-1. Neither team would score again and Southern Wesleyan would earn the win as the run-rule came into effect.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan travels to Tusculum, T.N. to take on the Pioneers on February 26 at 2 and 4 p.m. They will then host their first Conference Carolinas contest on March 5 as they take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders at 4 and 6 p.m.