Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the first two games of the series against the 16th ranked UNC Pembroke Braves. The Warriors took the first game of the afternoon in a 17-15 final score. They dropped game two in a 19-3 final score.
The Warriors picked up 12 hits in game one. Cam Mitchem led the team with four hits. He was followed by Marcerio Allen with three hits. Both Tyler Jackson and Cam Mitchem doubled, and Jackson Mix had a triple. Mitchem went on to record two home runs in the first game of the day. Mitchem led the team with seven of the sixteen RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked eight times and the Warriors stole four bases during the game. Christian Cassidy started game one for the Warriors. Six Warriors came in to pitch in relief. Mikah Gustavson led the team with three strikeouts and picked up the game one victory.
Southern Wesleyan recorded 10 hits in the second game of the afternoon. Patrick Walker doubled and Chance Fogel hit his second triple of the season. The Warriors walked once, and both Luke Staton and Noah Wiggins were hit by pitches. Cord Babcock started game two and pitched 3.2 innings for the Warriors. Five Warriors came in to pitch in relief. Both Cole Adams and Juan Garcia picked up strikeouts.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 17, UNC Pembroke 15
Game Two Final: UNC Pembroke 19, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (11-14 / CC 6-5) UNC Pembroke (20-5 / CC 9-2)
How It Happened
Game One
UNC Pembroke took the first runs of the game in the top of the first inning as they brought two runs in to score.
Southern Wesleyan countered in the bottom of the second inning as Cam Mitchem sent the ball over the left center field wall to put the Warriors back within one run of the Braves.
The Warriors attacked again in the bottom of the third inning. Dawson Gilstrap led off the inning by reaching first on an error and then stole second to get in scoring position . Jackson Mix walked to put two runners on and bring Marcerio Allen up to bat. Allen laid down a bunt single to load up the bases. Travis Hammond walked to bring Gilstrap in to score and tie the game. Chance Fogel then knocked a single through the right six to allow Mix to score. Cam Mitchem struck again as he doubled to center field to bring both Hammond and Allen across home plate. With two runners in scoring position, Noah Wiggins singled to allow Fogel to come in to score. A fielder's choice by Tyler Jackson took Wiggins off the bases and brought Mitchem home. Justin Purdom then reached on an error to put runners at first and second. A wild pitch then allowed both Purdom and Jackson to advance ninety feet. Dawson Gilstrap came up to bat for the second time in the inning and hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to bring Jackson home and put the Warriors ahead 8-2.
The Braves fought back in the top of the fourth inning as they brought four more runs in the score.
Southern Wesleyan attacked the plate again in the bottom of the inning. Travis Hammond led off with a walk and then advanced to second as Chace Fogel walked. Fogel and Hammond stole bases to put them both in scoring position. With two on, Cam Mitchem hit his second home run of the game over the left field wall to extend the Warriors lead to 11-6. Noah Wiggins reached first on an error and then stole second base. With one out, Justin Purdom singled to left field to bring Wiggins home and give the Warriors a six run advantage.
Back-to-back home runs by O'Connor and Faulkner allowed the Braves to come back within two runs of the Warriors.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Warriors regained their four run lead. Marcerio Allen led off with a single to right center field. A walk to Travis Hammond put runners at first and second. With one out, Cam Mitchem singled through the right side to bring Allen in to score. However, an error on the play allowed Hammond to score and put the Warriors lead at 14-10.
UNC Pembroke chipped away at Southern Wesleyan's lead in the top of the seventh inning as a ground out by Faulkner allowed O'Connor to score. They pushed on as they brought two more runs in to score in the top of the eighth inning.
Southern Wesleyan distanced themselves in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Tyler Jackson knocked a double to left field. Blayze Haddock came in to pinch run for Jackson, and then Justin Purdom was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Jackson Mix tripled down the right field line to bring both Purdom and Haddock in to score. A single to center field by Marcerio Allen allowed Mix to score and give the Warriors a 17-13 run advantage.
The Braves challenged in the top of the ninth inning, however the Warriors went on to win the game in a 17-15 final score.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan took the first runs of game two. With one out, Travis Hammond singled to short stop. A triple by Chance Fogel brought Hammond in to score. Justin Purdom knocked down a single to right field to score Fogel and put the Warriors on top 2-0.
UNC Pembroke countered in the top of the second inning as a single by Barham and double by Jayne scored two runs for the Braves to tie the game. The Braves attacked the plate in the top of the fourth inning and fifth innings to extend their lead over the Warriors.
The Warriors challenged in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jonny Middlebrooks led off the inning with a single up the middle. However, TJ Highsmith hit into a fielder's choice that took Middlebrooks off the bases. With two outs, Patrick Walker doubled to right field to score Highsmith. However, Southern Wesleyan fell in game two in a 19-3 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the series against the UNC Pembroke Braves on Sunday, March 19 at 2 p.m. They will then travel to Milledgeville, GA on March 21 to take on the Georgia College Bobcats. The Warriors will return to Dr C Keith Connor Field on March 24-25 to take on the Emmanuel Lions. They will then travel to Young Harris, GA to take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions on March 28 at 4 p.m.
