Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the final two games of the series against the Emmanuel Lions on Saturday. The Warriors took game on in a 4-3 final before falling in game two in a 10-8 final score.
The Warriors picked up four hits in game one of the day with Jackson Mix leading the team with two hits. Southern Wesleyan walked five times with Chance Fogel walking two times, and Marcerio Allen was hit by a pitch. Cord Babcock started game one and struck out three batters while pitching 4.2 innings. Andrew Patterson came in to pitch in relief and struck out one over 2.1 innings pitched.
Southern Wesleyan recorded 10 hits in game two. Cam Mitchem led the team with three hits. He was followed by Travis Hammond, Noah Wiggins and Dawson Gilstrap with two hits. Mitchem, Wiggins and Marty Grisso all doubled. Dawson Gilstrap had his first collegiate career home run. Mitchem and Wiggins each had three RBIs. The Warriors walked three times and Gilstrap was hit by a pitch. Steven Mufareh started on the mound and pitched 5.1 innings while striking out one batter.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 4, Emmanuel 3
Game Two Final: Emmanuel 10, Southern Wesleyan 8
Records: Southern Wesleyan (12-18 / CC 7-8) Emmanuel (17-13 / CC 8-7)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan attacked quickly in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Travis Hammond singled to left field. Chance Fogel then singled to right field to bring Hammond in to score and put the Warriors on top 1-0.
Emmanuel countered in the top of the fourth inning. A double by Manibusan brought in the first run for the Lions. They pushed on to take a 3-1 run lead.
The Warriors chipped away at the Lions lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Chance Fogel led off by reaching first on a walk. A walk to Cam Mitchem allowed Fogel to advance to second. Noah Wiggins laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both the runners ninety feet. Marty Grisso grounded out to bring Fogel in to score and put the Warriors back within one run of the Lions.
Southern Wesleyan scored again in the bottom of the seventh inning. Marty Grisso led off with a walk. Juan Garcia came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a balk. Blayze Haddock came in to pinch hit and reached on an error to bring Garcia in to score to tie the game up. A second balk allowed Haddock to advance to second base. Dawson Gilstrap hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Haddock to third. Jackson Mix singled to center field to score Haddock and give the Warriors a 4-3 game one walk-off victory.
Game Two
Emmanuel took the first run in the top of the second inning on a single by Haulk that scored Muniz. They extended their lead in the top of the third inning off a double by Muniz.
Southern Wesleyan countered in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. Dawson Gilstrap led off the inning by hitting a home run right over the left field wall. With one out, Marcerio Allen walked and then advanced to second on an error by the catcher. Travis Hammond walked. With two on, Chance Fogel reached on a fielder's choice, but both Hammond and Allen beat out the throws. Cam Mitchem followed with a double to deep right center to bring all three runners in to score. A double by Noah Wiggins down the left field line to bring Mitchem in to put the Warriors ahead 5-2.
The Lions regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning as they scored five runs.
The Warriors were not done. With one out, Marcerio Allen reached first on a dropped third strike and passed ball. Travis Hammond singled to left field and then advanced to second on the throw that also allowed Allen to move up to third base. With two out, Cam Mitchem was intentionally walked. Noah Wiggins singled through the left side to bring Hammond and Allen to come in to score. A double to left field by Marty Grisso allowed the Warriors to take an 8-7 run lead.
However, the lead was short lived as Dietsch singled to bring Eavenson in to score and tie the game up 8-8. The Lions pushed on with runs in the top of the seventh and eighth inning to win the second game of the day in a 10-8 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Young Harris, GA on March 28 to take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions at 4 p.m. They will then travel to Florence, SC to take on the Francis Marion Patriots on March 31 and April 1. The Warriors will remain on the road on April 5 as they take on the Limestone Saints. Southern Wesleyan will travel to Wilson, NC on April 7-8 to take on the Barton Bulldogs.
