Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in a hard fought double header against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in 3-0 and 9-7 final scores.

The Warriors collected five hits in the first game of the afternoon.  Emma Jo Wolfe, Lydia Clanton and Emma Collins all doubled over the course of the game.  Faith Bowen started game one of the day and pitched five innings while striking out four batters.  Emma Collins came in to pitch in relief and struck out three.

Southern Wesleyan collected seven hits in the second game of the day.  Delaney Byers led the team with three hits with Lydia Clanton following with two.  Byers doubled twice.  Clanton posted both a double and a home run.  Addi Johnson and Clanton each had two RBIs in the game.  Johnson went on to steal once.  Emma Collins pitched 7.2 of the nine inning game and struck out six batters.
 

 
Game Vitals

Game One Final: Belmont Abbey 3, Southern Wesleyan 0

Game Two Final: Belmont Abbey 9, Southern Wesleyan 7

Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-19 / CC 1-7) Belmont Abbey (18-7 / CC 5-3)

 
 
How It Happened
 
Game One
Southern Wesleyan challenged Belmont Abbey throughout the first game of the afternoon.  However, the Crusaders scored three runs in the top of the fifth to win the game in a 3-0 final score.
 

Game Two
Belmont Abbey struck early in the top of the first inning as they brought three runs in to score.  They pushed their lead to 4-0 in the top of the second inning.

The Warriors began to chip away at the Crusader's lead in the bottom of the third inning.  With one out, Emma Collins singled to the pitcher.  Collins advanced to third on a double to right center field by Delaney Byers.  Addi Johnson hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to allow Collins to score to put the Warriors within three runs of the Crusaders.

Southern Wesleyan scored once again in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Lydia Clanton led off the inning while a double to left field.  With two outs and Clanton at second base, Kaitlyn Stewart reached on an error that allowed Clanton to come home and score.

The Warriors took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.  With one out, Delaney Byers doubled to left field.  Byers came in to score as Addi Johnson singled to center field.  Johnson then proceeded to steal second base.  With two outs, Lydia Clanton drilled a two run home run over the left field wall to give Southern Wesleyan a 5-4 run advantage.
Belmont Abbey regained their lead in the top of the seventh inning as they brought three runs across home plate to put them ahead 7-5.

Southern Wesleyan was not done though.  With two out, Addi Johnson walked.  An error by third allowed Emma Jo Wolfe to reach first and advanced Johnson to second.  Lydia Clanton then walked to load up the bases and bring Faith Bowen up to bat.  Bowen walked to bring Johnson in to score.  With the bases loaded, Mary Sullivan reached first on an fielding error that allowed Emma Jo Wolfe to score to allow Southern Wesleyan to tie the game up at seven runs apiece.

However, Belmont Abbey pushed ahead in extra innings to claim a 9-7 run victory in the ninth inning.
 
 
 
What's Next
 
Southern Wesleyan will host the University of Mount Olive Trojans on April 2 at noon and 2 p.m.  They will then travel to Franklin Springs, GA on April 6 to take on the Emmanuel Lions.  The Warriors will return home on April 8 to host the UNC Pembroke Braves at 3 and 5 p.m.