Hickory, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell in the final two games to the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears on Saturday. The Warriors dropped game one in a 15-1 final score before dropping game two 16-2.
The Warriors totaled eight hits in the first game of the afternoon. Three posted two hits in the loss.
Travis Hammond doubled twice, and
Chance Fogel doubled once. Southern Wesleyan walked five times and they stole four bases.
Marcerio Allen led the team with two stolen bases. Behind him both Fogel and
Marty Grisso had solo stolen bases.
Cord Babcock started the game on the mound and pitched 4.2 innings while striking out three.
Southern Wesleyan had five hits in game two.
TJ Highsmith led the team with two hits. The Warriors walked seven hits, and both
Marcerio Allen and
Marty Grisso stole bases.
Clifton Olmstead started the final game of the series. Olmstead pitched 1.1 innings and struck out two batters.
Game Vitals
Final Game One: Lenoir-Rhyne 15, Southern Wesleyan 1
Final Game Two: Lenoir-Rhyne 16, Southern Wesleyan 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-8) Lenoir-Rhyne (10-3)
How It Happened
Game One
The Bears struck quickly as they brought five runs in to score in the bottom of the second inning.
The Warriors challenged in the top of the third. With one out,
Chance Fogel singled to right field and then stole second base. With Fogel at second,
Travis Hammond doubled to advance Fogel to third. With two in scoring position and two out, a passed ball allowed Fogel to come in to score.
Lenoir-Rhyne would not relent as they brought three more runs in across home plate in the bottom of the third. They plated another run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Bears went on to score runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to win the first game in a 15-1 final score.
Game Two
Lenoir-Rhyne took an early lead as they plated eight runs in the bottom of the first inning. They brought four more runs in to score in the bottom of the second inning.
The Warriors challenged in the top of the fifth inning.
Chance Fogel led off the inning by reaching first on a throwing error by the short stop. He advanced to second on a second error. With one out,
Josh Long fouled out to right field, but Fogel was able to advance to third base on the play. A wild pitch then allowed Fogel to come in to score.
The Bears brought three more runs in to score during the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings.
With one out in the top of the seventh inning,
Josh Long walked. Back-to-back wild pitches allowed Long to advance to third base.
Cam Mitchem walked to put runners at the corners. With two outs and runners on the corners,
TJ Highsmith singled to left center to bring Long in to score.
Lenoir-Rhyne scored once again to win the game in a 16-2 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will return home on February 22 as they host the Limestone Saints at 3 p.m. They will then open up Conference Carolinas action at home as they host the Chowan Hawks on February 24 and 25. Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on March 1 as they host the USC Aiken Pacers. They will travel to Belmont, NC on March 3-4 to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders.
