Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan unable to rally late in the game as Belmont Abbey takes game one of the series in a 5-3 final score.
The Warriors picked up six hits in the first game of the weekend series against the Crusaders. Cam Mitchem led the team with two RBIs off a double. Southern Wesleyan walked seven times and stole six bases. Both Christopher Hund and Clay Porter had two steals with both Marty Grisso and Jason Culley picking up solo stolen bases.
Nick Vollmert started on the mound for the Warriors and struck out six batters over six innings pitched. Jackson Turner, Christopher Hund and Bryce Metts each came in to pitch in relief. Hund and Metts each struck out two.
Game Vitals
Final: Belmont Abbey 5, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-8 / CC 0-1) Belmont Abbey (4-3 / CC 1-0)
How It Happened
Nick Vollmert and Josh Collett entered a pitching dual until the bottom of the third inning when the Warriors got on the board. Jason Culley led off the inning with a single through the left side and then stole second base. A passed ball on the fourth ball in Clay Porter's at bat allowed Culley to advance to third. Porter then stole second to put both runners in scoring position. With one out, Cam Mitchem drilled the ball to left field for a double that brought both Culley and Porter in to score.
The Warriors pushed on in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Christopher Hund walked and then stole both second and third bases. With Hund at third, Josh Long hit a single through the left side to bring Hund in to score the Warriors third run of the game.
Belmont Abbey fought back as a single by Boyles and a triple by Tucker brought three runs in to score in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game up 3-3.
The Crusaders went on to score runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings to take a 5-3 run lead.
Southern Wesleyan challenged in the bottom of the ninth inning as with one out Jason Culley walked and then Clay Porter was hit by a pitch to put two runners on the bases. However, the Warriors could not capitalize on the runners and fell to the Crusaders in a 5-3 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will conclude the series against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on February 17 at 1 and 4pm. They will then travel to Greenwood, SC on February 20 to take on the Lander Bearcats at 5pm. The Warriors will remain on the road on February 23-24 as they take on the Chowan Hawks in Conference Carolinas action.
