Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped both games in the double header against the Coker Cobras on Friday evening. Game one of the series went 13 innings and last just over four hours, concluding in an 8-6 loss to the Cobras. The second game of the day ended in a 3-2 run loss.
The Warriors collected 10 hits in the first game of the afternoon. Both
Marty Grisso and
Josh Long led the team with two hits.
Chance Fogel recorded the first home run of the season off a grand slam.
Marcerio Allen doubled. Fogel led the team with four of the five RBIs. The other RBI came off the bat of Long. Southern Wesleyan walked four times. The Warriors struck out 15 batters during the game.
Steven Mufareh started game one and pitched seven innings while striking out six batters.
Ash Faulk followed Mufareh with five strikeouts recorded.
Southern Wesleyan picked up four hits in the second game of the day.
Jackson Mix doubled during the game.
Marcerio Allen had the lone RBI of the day. Three Warriors walked and Allen had the lone stolen base.
Cord Babcock started the second game and pitched five innings while striking out three batters.
Clifton Olmstead came in to pitch in relief and struck out three.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Coker 8, Southern Wesleyan 6 (13 innings)
Game Two Final: Coker 3, Southern Wesleyan 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-4) Coker (2-5)
How It Happened
Game One
The Cobras took the first run of the afternoon as a single by Nic Curtis brought one run in to score in the top of the second inning.
However, the Warriors challenged back in the bottom of the inning. With one out,
Cam Mitchem walked. A ground out by
Josh Long allowed Mitchem to advance to second base.
Justin Purdom reached on a fielding error that allowed Mitchem to score to tie the game up 1-1.
Southern Wesleyan pushed on in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out,
Marcerio Allen hit a double to right field.
Cam Mitchem grounded out, but Allen was able to advance to third on the play. With a runner ninety feet from home,
Josh Long singled to bring Allen in and put the Warriors ahead 2-1.
The Warriors struck again in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Justin Purdom led off the inning by reaching first on an error. A single to the pitcher by
Noah Wiggins put two runners on with no outs.
Jackson Mix reached on an error to load up the bases and bring
Chance Fogel up to bat. Fogel knocked the ball over the right field wall for a grand slam to bring all four runs in to score to extend the Warriors lead to 6-1.
Coker struck again in the top of the seventh and eighth inning to tie the game up 6-6.
The Cobras and Warriors battled out through as each shut down the other's attacks until the thirteenth inning. In the thirteenth, Coker was the first to score as they brought two runs in to win the first game 8-6.
Game Two
Coker took the first run in the top of first inning. They extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third inning.
The Warriors challenged in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Josh Long led off the inning with a walk. A sacrifice bunt by
Marty Grisso allowed Long to advance to second base. Long moved to third on a wild pitch.
Marcerio Allen hit a single to left field to bring Long across home plate and put the Warriors on the board.
The Cobras extended their lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Warriors struck again.
Josh Long led off with a single through the right side. A fielder's choice took Long off the bases and put
Marty Grisso on first base. A wild pitch and passed ball allowed Grisso to reach third.
Marcerio Allen reached on an error that allowed Grisso to score. However, the Warriors dropped the game in a 3-2 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Newberry, SC on February 15 to take on the Newberry Wolves. The Warriors will return home on February 17-18 to host the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears. They will welcome the Limestone Saints to Central, SC on February 22 at 3 p.m. Southern Wesleyan will open up Conference Carolinas action on February 24 and 25 as they host the Chowan Hawks.
