Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the doubleheader versus the King Tornado on Saturday. The Warriors took the first game of the afternoon in a 4-3 walk-off before dropping game two 13-5.
The Warriors collected seven hits in game one with
DJ Ludwick leading the team with two hits.
Dawson Posick doubled during the game. Posick led the team with two of the four RBIs. Six Warriors walked and Ludwick led the team with two stolen bases.
Aaron Bennett started the first game of the afternoon, pitching six innings and striking out eight batters.
Cole Standifer came in to pitch in relief, striking out three and picking up his first win of the season.
Southern Wesleyan posted 13 hits in game two of the afternoon.
Parker Pillsbury and
Hunter Garlington led the team with three hits apiece, while
Sean Sutay followed with two hits on the afternoon. Pillsbury had the lone double of the afternoon. Garlington recorded two of the four RBIs of the game. Southern Wesleyan had seven walks during the game with
Josh Galloway leading the team with two.
Devyn Bond started game two for the Warriors, striking out three over five innings.
Aaron Wimpey and
Josh Henshaw came in to pitch in relief, striking out out three batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 4, King 3
Game Two Final: King 13, Southern Wesleyan 5
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-3 / CC 1-2) King (2-1 / CC 2-1)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan took the first run of game one of the afternoon in the bottom of the second inning. With one out,
Tyler Rogers walked.
Angelo Pahila came up to bat with one on and two outs before singling to deep right field. Rogers came home to score on the play to put the Warriors ahead 1-0.
King countered in the top of the sixth inning. Andrews singled to lead off the inning and then advanced to second as McCann reached first. With two on, a passed ball advanced the runners ninety feet. With runners in scoring position, Andrews scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. Hall followed with a single to right field to bring in McCann to put the Tornado on top 2-1.
The Warriors struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Tanner Glass led off with a single to right field and then advanced to second on a walk to
Parker Pillsbury. With two on,
Sawyer Price hit a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners by ninety feet.
Tyler Rogers was hit by a pitch to load up the bases with only one out.
Dawson Posick followed with a bases loaded walk to bring Glass in and tie the game 2-2 and force the game into extra innings.
King attacked in the top of the eighth inning. With two on, McCann grounded out on a sacrifice bunt to bring Barger home and give the Tornado a 3-2 run advantage.
Southern Wesleyan would not go quietly as they attacked again in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs and a runner on second base,
Tyler Rogers singled to right field to bring
Juan Garcia in and tie the game.
Nolan Steevens came in to pinch run for Rogers.
Dawson Posick doubled to deep left field to bring Steevens in and give the Warriors a 4-3 walk-off game one victory.
Game Two
King took an early lead, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. They then extended their lead in the top of the fourth inning.
Down by eight runs, Southern Wesleyan took their first runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Nolan Steevens came in to pinch hit, singling to left field and then advancing to second on a single through the right side by
Parker Pillsbury. With two on,
Hunter Garlington singled to left center to load up the bases.
Tyler Rogers reached on a fielder's choice to bring Steevens in and put the Warriors down 8-1.
Sean Sutay followed with a single through the right side, driving in another run to make the score 8-2.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Warriors struck again. With one out,
Zach O'Malley was hit by a pitch.
Parker Pillsbury followed with a double through the right side to move O'Malley to third. With two on and two out,
Hunter Garlington singled to bring both Pillsbury and O'Malley in to put Southern Wesleyan within four.
King continued to push ahead in the top of the eighth inning. The Tornado scored five more runs to give them a 13-4 run advantage.
Southern Wesleyan plated one more run in the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out,
Zach O'Malley singled to left field and then advanced to second on a single by
Caden Cotton. A wild pitch advanced both runners ninety feet.
Will Pitts walked to load the bases. With the bases loaded, a passed ball allowed O'Malley to score. King went on to win the second game 13-5.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the four game series against the King Tornado on February 21. They will then host the University of Mount Olive Trojans on February 26 and 27. The Warriors will then travel to Belmont, NC to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on March 5 and 6.
