Murfreesboro, NC – Southern Wesleyan split the final two games in the series against the Chowan Hawks on Sunday. The Warriors dropped game one in an 8-5 final before taking game two 7-4.
The Warriors picked up seven hits in the second game of the series. Marty Grisso led the Warriors with two hits with five players following with solo hits. Both of Grisso's hits came in the form of doubles. Jarrett Whitley and Jonathan Overton each doubled as well. Southern Wesleyan walked three times. Steven Mufareh started on the mound and pitched 2.1 innings while striking out three batters. Christopher Hund, Gehrig Schreiber and Jacob Webb came in to pitch in relief. Hund struck out five and Webb picked up a solo strikeout.
Southern Wesleyan picked up 11 hits in game two. Jason Culley, Marty Grisso, and Griffin Pickhardt each had two hits. Grisso, Pickhardt and Zachary Kim each had doubles. Jonathan Overton led the Warriors with two RBIs. The Warriors walked twice. Eric Yelton started the final game of the series on the mound for the Warriors and pitched four innings while striking out two batters. Bryce Metts, Ash Faulk and Jackson Turner each came in to pitch in relief. Metts led the Warriors with three strikeouts on the day.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Chowan 8, Southern Wesleyan 5
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 7, Chowan 4
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-12 / CC 2-4) Chowan (4-10 / CC 2-1)
How It Happened
Game One
The Warriors took the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Jason Culley led off with a walk and then advanced to second on a single by Cam Mitchem. Jarrett Whitley was hit by a pitch to load up the bases. Jonathan Overton grounded out to bring Culley in to score and give the Warriors the lead.
Southern Wesleyan extended their lead in the top of the third inning. With one out, Marty Grisso hit a double down the left field line. However, Cam Mitchem hit into a fielder's choice that took Grisso off the bases. Jarrett Whitley followed with a double to advance Mitchem to third. Jonathan Overton was hit by a pitch to bring Gage Shaver up to bat. Shaver hit a single up the middle to bring both Mitchem and Whitley in to score and give the Warriors a 3-0 run lead.
However, a home run by Rumaldo and a double by Amancio allowed the Hawks to take a 4-3 run lead in the bottom of the third inning.
The Warriors tied the game up in the top of the fourth inning. Josh Long walked and then a sacrifice bunt by Clay Porter allowed Long to advance to second. With two out, Marty Grisso doubled down the left field line to bring Long in to score.
The Hawks regained their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Santana hit a three run home run over the left center field wall.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Warriors struck again. Clay Porter led off the inning by walking and then advanced to second on a single to left field by Jason Culley. Marty Grisso hit into a fielder's choice that allowed all of the runners to advance, but the Hawks were unable to get anyone out on the play. With two outs and the bases loaded, Jarrett Whitley was hit by a pitch to bring in the Warriors fifth run of the game.
Chowan scored once again in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 8-5 to win the first game of the day.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan plated the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Jason Culley reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. A ground out by Marty Grisso allowed Culley to move up to third. Jarrett Whitley followed with a walk to put runners on the corners. Cam Mitchem then hit a sacrifice fly to right center field to allow Culley to come in to score and give the Warriors a 1-0 run lead.
The Warriors extended their lead in the top of the third inning. Griffin Pickhardt led off the inning by hitting a single through the left side. Jason Culley reached first on a catcher's interference call that also allowed Pickhardt to advance to second. Marty Grisso then laid down a bunt single to advance each of the runners. With the bases loaded and no one out, Jarrett Whitley hit a single through the left side to bring Pickhardt in to score. Jonathan Overton stepped up to the plate with one out and the bases loaded and drilled a single to right field to bring Grisso in to score. However, an error in the outfield not only allowed Overton to advance to second base, but allowed Culley to come in to score. With runners at second and third base, Chase Gribble hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to bring Whitley in to score and give the Warriors a 5-0 run advantage.
Doubles by Amancio and Bellamy allowed the Hawks to put two runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning.
However, the Warriors regained their five run advantage in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, Zachary Kim hit a double to right center. Griffin Pickhardt followed with a walk to put two runners on. Jason Culley hit a single up the middle to advance Pickhardt to second base and bring Kim in to score. With two on and two out, Marty Grisso drilled the ball to left field for a double that brought Pickhardt across home plate to give the Warriors a 7-2 run advantage.
Chowan plated two more runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Southern Wesleyan walked away with a 7-4 game two victory.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Central, SC to host the Shorter Hawks on February 27 at 4pm. The Warriors will welcome the North Greenville Crusaders to Dr. C Keith Connor Field on March 1-2.
