Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan comes from behind to pick up the walk-off 15-14 win against the Georgia College Bobcats.
The Warriors picked up 15 hits against the Bobcats. Travis Hammond and Justin Purdom led the team with three hits apiece. Marcerio Allen had two doubles with Hammond, Purdom, and Cam Mithem all doubling once. Mitchem picked up three of the eleven RBIs of the game. He was followed by both Hammond and Purdom with two RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked 12 times and the Warriors stole six bases with Chance Fogel leading the team with two stolen bases on the day.
Jackson Turner started on the mound for the Warriors. Ten Warriors followed Turner on the mound. George Schodowski led the team with three of the nine strikeouts during the game. Schodowski went on to pick up the win.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 15, Georgia College 14
Records: Southern Wesleyan (10-13) Georgia College (8-12)
Coach Robinson says…
"Great team win tonight. I challenged the team tonight after we got down 11-0 to show me fight, and that this is a long game. They responded with a big inning and each guy in that dugout wanted the win. We wanted it more and fought a way. That's who I want to go to war with, the guys who want it more! Proud of our players."
How It Happened
Georgia College attacked quickly as they brought six runs in to score in the top of the first inning. They extended their lead to eleven in the top of the fourth inning as they brought five more runs in to score.
Southern Wesleyan fought back in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Dawson Gilstrap reached first on an error and then advanced to second on the play. Marcerio Allen followed by reaching first on a walk. With two on, Travis Hammond singled to load up the bases. Chance Fogel was hit by a pitch to bring in the first run for the Warriors. With the bases still loaded, Cam Mitchem doubled to left field to bring all three runners in to score. A single to left field off the bat of Josh Long allowed Mitchem to score to put the Warriors back within six runs of the Bobcats. TJ Highsmith walked to allow Long to advance to second base. A fly out by Marty Grisso allowed Long to move up to third. TJ Highsmith stole second to put both runners in scoring position. A passed ball advanced Highsmith to third and allowed Long to come in to score. Justin Purdom walked and then stole second base. A wild pitch advanced Purdom to third and brought Highsmith in to score. Dawson Gilstrap then singled to shortstop to bring Purdom home and put the Warriors down 11-8.
The Bobcats would not relent as a double by Bellflower scored Moore to put Georgia College ahead 12-8.
Southern Wesleyan continued to chip away at Georgia College's lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Travis Hammond reached first on an error and then advanced to third as Chance Fogel singled. While Fogel was stealing second, Hammond scored on an error by the catcher. Back-to-back walks to Cam Mitchem and Josh Long loaded up the bases. With two outs, Justin Purdom doubled to left center field to allow both Fogel and Mitchem to come across home plate and put the Warriors within one run of the Bobcats.
The Warriors took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Marcerio Allen led off the inning by doubling to left center field. Allen then stole third to put him ninety feet from home plate. Travis Hammond doubled to bring Allen in and tie the game up. With one out, Hammond stole third and then came in to score on a passed ball to give the Warriors a 13-12 run lead.
The lead was short lived as Georgia College tied the game back up in the top of the eighth inning.
Southern Wesleyan pushed ahead in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, Justin Purdom singled to right center field. Blayze Haddock came in to pinch run for Purdom and advanced to second base on a groundout by Dawson Gilstrap. Marcerio Allen doubled to left center field to bring Haddock home.
The Bobcats tied the game again in the top of the ninth inning as a sacrifice fly out by Spivey allowed Metts to come in to score.
The Warriors would not relent as they continued to fight in the bottom of the twelfth inning. Noah Wiggins singled to right field and then advanced to second on a bunt single by Marty Grisso. Tyler Jackson grounded out to advance both Wiggins and Grisso ninety feet. With two out, Marcerio Allen was intentionally walked to load up the bases. A walk to Travis Hammond allowed Wiggins to come in to score to give the Warriors a 15-14 run victory.
What's Next
The Warriors will remain at home on March 17 as they host the UNC Pembroke Braves on Dr C Keith Connor Field at 6 p.m. They will then wrap up the series against the Braves on March 18 at 1 and 4 p.m. Southern Wesleyan will then travel to Milledgeville, GA to take on the Georgia College Bobcats on March 21. The Warriors will return home on March 24-25 to host the Emmanuel Lions.
