Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in the doubleheader against the Georgia College Bobcats on Friday afternoon in 7-4 and 9-8 final scores.
The Warriors totaled six hits in the first game of the day with both Addi Johnson and Olivia Haag leading the team with two hits. Riley Wilson doubled and Johnson hit her fourth home run of the young season. Haag went on to have two of the four RBIs of the game. The other RBIs came off the bats of Johnson and Wilson. Southern Wesleyan walked three times and both Taylor Palfrey and Chalee Roper stole bases. Haag started on the mound in game one and pitched six innings and struck out two batters.
Southern Wesleyan totaled 11 hits in game two with Hannah Truett leading the team with three. Truett was followed by Avery Mercer with two hits. Addi Johnson, Mercer and Riley Wilson each had doubles, and Truett picked up a triple. Both Truett and Mercer had two RBIs. The Warriors walked three times and three players picked up stolen bases. Amberly Way started on the mound in game two and pitched six innings while striking out three batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Georgia College 7, Southern Wesleyan 4
Game Two Final: Georgia college 9, Southern Wesleyan 8
Records: Southern Wesleyan (8-4) Georgia College (6-4)
How It Happened
Game One
Georgia College struck first as a double by Martin and a triple by Gutierrez brought three runners in to score in the top of the second inning.
Southern Wesleyan countered in the bottom of the inning. Avery Mercer reached first on a walk. Chalee Roper came in to pinch run and then stole second base. A fly out by Hannah Truett allowed Roper to move up to third. With two outs, Riley Wilson hit a double down the left field line to bring Roper in to score.
The Warriors came to within one run of the Bobcats in the bottom of the third inning as senior Addi Johnson drove the ball over the center field wall for her fourth home run of the season.
Southern Wesleyan pushed on as they took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Madison Truett led off the inning with a single to left field. Emmy Copeland came in to pinch run for Truett, but was called out at second when Taylor Palfrey hit into a fielder's choice. Palfrey then stole second. Addi Johnson singled to left field to advance Palfrey to third base. With one out, Olivia Haag singled to center field to bring both Johnson and Palfrey across home plate and give the Warriors a 4-3 run advantage.
Georgia College tied the game up in the top of the sixth inning off a home run by Gutierrez. They went on to plate three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to win game one in a 7-4 final score.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan started strong in the second game of the afternoon as they brought three runs in to score. Taylor Palfrey led off the inning with a single to center field and then advanced to third on a double down the left field line by Addi Johnson. With two on and one out, Amberly Way reached on an error by the short stop that also allowed Palfrey to score and advanced Johnson to third. Hannah Truett hit a single to right field to bring Way in to score. With two out, Avery Mercer doubled to left center field to bring Truett home and give the Warriors a 3-0 run advantage.
In the top of the second inning, an error by Addi Johnson allowed Gutierrez to cross home plate to put the Bobcats within two runs of the Warriors.
Georgia College continued to chip away at the Warriors lead as Gutierrez singled to left center in the top of the third to bring Caldwell in and put them down 3-2 to Southern Wesleyan.
The Warriors regained their two run advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning. Riley Wilson led off the inning with a double to center field and then advanced to third on a ground out by Madison Truett. Rebecca Lamb came in to pinch hit for Taylor Palfrey and grounded out to second, but Wilson came in to score on the play to extend the Warriors lead to 4-2.
The Bobcats scored another run in the top of the fifth inning. Caldwell singled to center field to bring Hobbs in to score.
Talissa Cannady reached on a walk to lead off the fifth inning for the Warriors. Cannady went on to steal second base. With one out and Cannady in scoring position, Hannah Truett drilled the ball to center field for a triple that allowed Cannady to come in a score the fifth run of the game for the Warriors.
Georgia College fought back in the top of the seventh innings as a grand slam by Owens and a two run shot by Checo gave them a 9-5 run lead.
The Warriors did not go down quietly. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Addi Johnson walked and then advanced to second on a single by Talissa Cannady. Amberly Way came up to bat and hit a single to center field to bring Johnson across home plate and advance Cannady to second. Hannah Truett grounded out to first base to advance each of the runners. A sacrifice fly out by Abby Schreiner allowed Cannady to come in to score. With two outs, Avery Mercer hit a single to right field to bring Way home. However, the Warriors fell to the Bobcats in a 9-8 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on February 21 as they host the Claflin Panthers beginning at 2pm. They will then travel to Wise, VA on February 23 to take on the UVA Wise Cavaliers. The Warriors will remain on the road on February 28 as they take on the Clark Atlanta Panthers.
