Bristol, TN – Southern Wesleyan split the final two games of the series against the King Tornado on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors dropped the first game 3-0 before winning the second in a 9-8 final score.
The Warriors collected four hits in game one with
Tyler Jackson leading the team with two.
Cam Mitchem doubled.
Chance Fogel walked and
Marcerio Allen picked up the lone stolen base.
Cord Babcock started game one and pitched 4.1 innings while striking out two.
George Schodowski came in to pitch in relief and struck out two over 1.2 innings pitched.
Southern Wesleyan picked up 11 hits in the second game of the afternoon. Four Warriors doubled with
TJ Highsmith leading the team with two doubles. Both
Cam Mitchem and
Marcerio Allen had home runs. Allen led the team with three of the nine RBIs. Both
Travis Hammond and Mitchem picked up two RBIs. The Warriors walked five times and Hammond, Allen and
Chance Fogel all stealing bases.
Sandy Johnson started the game and struck out two batters.
Josh Fenton picked up the win as he pitched 2.1 innings and struck out three batters.
George Schodowski picked up the save.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: King 3, Southern Wesleyan 0
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 9, King 8
Records: Southern Wesleyan (9-13 / CC 5-4) King (9-10 / CC 2-9)
How It Happened
Game One
King put up three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the early lead. Drew Moore then kept the Warriors off the board to give the Tornado the game one victory.
Game Two
The Tornado took the first runs of the second game of the day as singles by Hawkins and Renwick allowed two runs to come in to score.
However, the Warriors countered in the top of the second inning.
TJ Highsmith doubled down the left field line off the fence. With two outs,
Tyler Jackson then doubled down the right field line to bring Highsmith in to score and cut the Tornado lead in half.
Southern Wesleyan pushed ahead in the top of the third inning.
Josh Long led off the inning by double to right center and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. With one out,
Chance Fogel doubled down the right field line to bring Long in to score.
Cam Mitchem then drilled the ball over the center field wall to put the Warriors ahead 4-2.
King countered in the bottom off the third inning as a sacrifice fly by Bonney and home run by Hilliard put them back ahead by two runs.
The Warriors would not relent as the regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning.
Tyler Jackson reached first after being hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice bunt by
Dawson Gilstrap allowed Jackson to advance to second base.
Josh Long grounded out to advance both Gilstrap and Jackson ninety feet. With one out and two runners in scoring position,
Travis Hammond singled up the middle to bring both runners home and tie the game up. Hammond then stole second base on a failed pick off attempt.
Cam Mitchem walked to put runners at first and second base.
Marcerio Allen homered over the right field wall to give the Warriors a three run advantage.
The Tornado countered with runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings. However,
George Schodowski struck out the final batters to allow the Warriors to win the game in a 9-8 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will then return to Dr. C Keith Connor Field to host the Georgia College Bobcats on March 14 at 4 p.m. They will remain at home on March 17 and 18 to host the UNC Pembroke Braves in Conference Carolinas action. Southern Wesleyan will ten travel to Milledgeville, GA to take on the Georgia College Bobcats for the second time in the semester. The Warriors will return home on March 24-25 to take on the Emmanuel Lions.
