Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan opened up the 2022 spring season with a victory as they took down the UVA Wise Cavaliers 9-2 on Friday evening.
 
The Warriors collected eleven hits with Zach O'Malley leading the team with three.  Josh Asbill doubled twice while both Josh Galloway and Chance Fogel had solo doubles.  Asbill had five of the eight RBIs during the game.  Southern Wesleyan had seven stolen bases with Fogel, O'Malley and Ty King Richards all recording two.  Parker Pillsbury was the lone Warrior to be hit by a pitch during the game.
 
On the mound, the Warriors struck out 13 batters in their first victory of the season.  Starter Aaron Bennett collected five strikeouts over four innings pitched.  Jacob Standridge picked up the first win of the season as he struck out eight batters over nine innings.
 
 
 
Game Vitals
 
Final: Southern Wesleyan 9, UVA Wise 2
 
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-0) UVA Wise (0-1)
 
 
 
How It Happened
 
The Cavaliers took the first run of the game in the second inning and then extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third inning.
 
Southern Wesleyan challenged in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Ty King Richards led off by reaching first on an error.  He then stole second base.  Zach O'Malley followed with a single through the right side to advance King Richards to third base.  With runners on the corners, DJ Ludwick singled through the left side to bring King Richards in to score and cut the Cavaliers lead down to one run.
 
Southern Wesleyan tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Ty King Richards led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to third on a single by Zach O'Malley to left field.  With one out, both O'Malley and Richards stole bases to allow the Warriors to tie the game up 2-2.  Josh Galloway then walked to put two runners on base.  With two on two out, both Galloway and O'Malley stole to put both runners in scoring position.  Josh Asbill doubled to left field to bring both Galloway and O'Malley in and put the Warriors on top 4-2.
 
Chance Fogel led off the eighth inning with a walk and then stole second base.  A wild pitch allowed Fogel to reach third base.  Jordan Montgomery then walked to put runners on the corners with no one out.  Ty King Richards grounded out, but Fogel was allowed to come in to score on the play.  A ground out by Zach O'Malley allowed Montgomery to advance to third.  DJ Ludwick followed with a walk to put runners at the corners.  Josh Galloway doubled down the left field line to advance Ludwick to third and bring Montgomery in to score.  Clifton Olmstead came in to pinch run for Galloway.  Parker Pillsbury then walked to load up the bases.  With the bases loaded, Josh Asbill doubled to left field to bring Pillsbury, Olmstead and Ludwick in to score and give the Warriors a 9-2 run lead to win the game.
 
 
What's Next
 
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the home series against the UVA Wise Cavaliers on February 5 in a double header starting at 1.  They will then travel to Cleveland, GA on February 8 to take on the Truett-McConnell Bears at 3 p.m.  The Warriors will remain on the road on February 11 as they travel to Newberry, SC to take on the Newberry Wolves.