Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the final two games of the series against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Saturday. After dropping game one in a 10-3 final score, the Warriors took down the Crusaders in extra innings in game two in a 12-11 final score.
The Warriors had four hits in the first game of the afternoon. Jason Culley led the team with two hits with both Tyler Jackson and Marty Grisso following with solo hits. Both Grisso and Jackson doubled, and Culley picked up a triple. Culley went on to have two of the RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked two times and Jarrett Whitley was hit by a pitch. Jaylen Morgan started game one and pitched 1.2 innings and struck out one batter. Five Warriors game in to pitch in relief. Gage Shaver led the team with four strikeouts.
Southern Wesleyan recorded nine hits in game two. Josh Long led the team with three hits with Jarrett Whitley following with two. TJ Highsmith and Josh Long each doubled, and Whitley hit a home run. Of the seven RBIs, three Warriors picked up two RBIs each. Southern Wesleyan walked 15 times, Josh Long stole a base and both Whitley and Noah Wiggins each were hit by a pitch. Kyle Dixon started game two and struck out three batters over 2.1 innings pitched. Four Warriors came in to pitch with Steven Mufareh, Ash Faulk and Jackson Turner each striking out two batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Belmont Abbey 10, Southern Wesleyan 3
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 12, Belmont Abbey 11
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-9 / CC 1-2) Belmont Abbey (5-3 / CC 2-1)
How It Happened
Game One
The Crusaders took the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. A sacrifice fly by Powell and a single by Tucker in the top of the second inning allowed Belmont Abbey to extend their lead to 4-0.
Southern Wesleyan cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second inning. Jarrett Whitley led off with a walk and then advanced to third as Tyler Jackson hit a double down the right field line. A walk to Josh Long loaded up the bases and brought Jason Culley up to bat. Culley singled up the middle to bring both Jackson and Whitley across home plate to put the Warriors behind the Crusaders in a 4-2 final score.
Belmont Abbey pushed on in the top of the third inning as a passed ball and a single by Velotta allowed the Crusaders to extend their lead to 6-2.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Warriors challenged again. With one out, Jason Culley drilled a triple down the right field line. Culley came in to score on a ground out by Clay Porter.
The Crusaders brought four runs in to score in the top of the seventh to take game one in a 10-3 final score.
Game Two
Belmont Abbey attacked the plate early as Tucker doubled to left center field to bring in one and then an error brought in the second run of the day.
The Warriors countered in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game up. With one out, Cam Mitchem walked. Marty Grisso hit into a fielder's choice that took Mitchem off of the bases. Jarrett Whitley drilled the ball over the left center field wall for a home run that brought Grisso in to score to tie the game up 2-2.
In the top of the second inning, a double by Velotta brought Bass in to score to regain the Crusaders lead.
Southern Wesleyan would not relent as they took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning. TJ Highsmith led off the inning with a double hit down the left field line. Josh Long followed by hitting another double down the left field line to bring Highsmith in to score. Long then stole third to put him in scoring position. With one out, Clay Porter walked. A wild pitch allowed Long to come in to score to give the Warriors the lead.
The lead was short lived as the Crusaders scored two more times in the top of the third inning. They extended their lead further with runs in the top of the fourth inning.
TJ Highsmith led off the bottom of the fourth inning for Southern Wesleyan and reached first on an error by the third baseman. On the error, Highsmith quickly advanced to second base. A wild pitch then sent Highsmith to third and brought Josh Long up to bat. Long hit a single to first base to bring Highsmith home. With one out, a wild pitch allowed Long to move up ninety feet. Clay Porter then walked to put runners at the corners. Another wild pitched advanced both Porter and Long. Travis Hammond was walked to load up the bases. Cam Mitchem knocked down a single to left field to bring both Porter and Long in to score and advanced Hammond to third. With two outs, Noah Wiggins reached first on an error that brought two more runs in to score to put the Warriors on top 9-6.
Belmont Abbey fought back as they brought two runs in to score in the top of the fifth inning to put them back within one run of Southern Wesleyan. They would not relent as they scored once again in the top of the sixth inning.
With the energy in the dugout building, Jarrett Whitley singled to left center in the bottom of the sixth inning. Noah Wiggins grounded out on a sacrifice bunt that allowed Whitley to advance to second. Gage Shaver came in to pinch hit and reached first on an error that brought Whitley in to score to put the Warriors on top 10-9.
The Crusaders pushed on as they tied the game on a passed ball and then took the lead on a single by Whitaker.
The Warriors continued to build on their momentum as with one out, Josh Long singled up the middle. Connor Truax came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a single by Clay Porter. A walk to Jack Dennison loaded up the bases . A wild pitched brought Truax in to score to tie the game 11-11 and force it into extra innings.
Southern Wesleyan pushed on as with one out, Jack Dennison walked. Back-to-back walks to Marty Grisso and Jarrett Whitley loaded up the bases. Blayze Haddock then walked to bring in the twelfth run of the game for the Warriors as they went on to win the game in a 12-11 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road on February 20 as they take on the Lander Bearcats at 5pm. They will then continue Conference Carolinas action on the road on February 23-24 as they welcome the Chowan Hawks to Central, SC. The Warriors will then return home on February 27 to take on the Shorter Hawks.
