Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split in the final regular season series of the season. The Warriors recorded a walk-off victory in game one as they defeated the Converse Valkyries in an 8-7 final score. Southern Wesleyan then dropped the final game in a 5-3 final score.
The Warriors totaled 11 hits in game one with three players picking up two hits. Addi Johnson doubled during the game. Johnson led the team with five RBIs. Behind her, Emma Jo Wolfe had two RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked four times. Wolfe pitched a complete game on the mound and struck out seven batters over eight innings.
Southern Wesleyan recorded six hits in game two. Addi Johnson led the team with two hits. Both Johnson and Charity Dennis picked up RBIs. Ryanne Yarborough had the lone walk and Johnson stole two bases. Ella Grace Lawton started game two on the mound and pitched six innings while striking out two batters. Jaelyn Montfort came in to pitch two innings in relief.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 8, Converse 7
Game Two Final: Converse 5, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-37 / CC 3-21) Converse (15-31 / CC 6-16)
How It Happened
Game One
The Valkyries took the first run of the game in the top of the first inning off a double by Ryan Finazzo.
Southern Wesleyan countered in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game up. Emma Jo Wolfe singled through the right side and then advanced to second on a single by Talissa Cannady. Addi Johnson flew out to right field, but Wolfe came in to score on the play to tie the game up 1-1.
Converse regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning as a single allowed the second run to come in to score for the Valkyries. They pushed further ahead in the top of the fourth inning. The Valkyries pushed another run across the plate in the top of the seventh inning.
The Warriors fought on in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game up once again. With one out, Autumn Barnhardt singled to right field. However, a fielder's choice took Barnhardt off the bases and put Emma Jo Wolfe on first base. Talissa Cannady then singled through the right side to advance Wolfe to second. With two outs and two on, Addi Johnson doubled down the left field line to bring both Cannady and Wolfe in to score to put the Warriors down by one. Andi Grae Wingate followed with a walk. With Jaelyn Montfort pinch running for Wingate and Johnson on second, Montfort advanced to second on a failed pick-off attempt. Johnson came in to score on the play to tie the game up 4-4 and force the game into extra innings.
The Valkyries regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning.
The lead was short lived as the Warriors pushed on in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out and Cambrie DeBerry on second, Emmy Copeland singled to left center to allow DeBerry to advanced to third. An error by the second baseman put Charity Dennis on first to load up the bases. With two outs, Emma Jo Wolfe singled up the middle to bring both Copeland and DeBerry in to score to put the Warriors back within one run of the Valkyries. Talissa Cannady walked to load up the bases once again. Addi Johnson singled to right field to bring both Dennis and Wolfe in to score to give the Warriors an 8-7 run victory in game one.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan struck first in game two. Autumn Barnhardt led off with a single up the middle. However, a fielder's choice by Talissa Cannady took Barnhardt off the bases. An error by the short stop allowed Addi Johnson to reach first and brought Cannady in to score.
Serrah Balla hit a home run over the center field wall to allow the Valkyries to tie the game 1-1.
The Warriors regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ryanne Yarborough led off with a walk and then advanced to second as Sarah Prater hit a single through the left side. Emmy Copeland laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance each of the runners up. A ground out by Charity Dennis brought Yarborough home.
The Valkyries would not relent as they brought in another run in the top of the fifth inning. They pushed ahead as a Serrah Balla hit a second home run in the top of the sixth inning.
Southern Wesleyan tied the game up again in the bottom of the seventh inning. Autumn Barnhardt reached first on an error and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Addi Johnson singled to right field to bring Rominger in to score to tie the game up 3-3.
However, Converse would not relent as they scored two more runs to win game two in a 5-3 final score.
