Albany, GA – Southern Wesleyan split the doubleheader against the Albany State Golden Rams on Saturday afternoon. They claimed game one in 8-3, but then dropped the second game in a 16-4 final scores.
The Warriors totaled 11 hits in the first game of the day. Amberly Way led the team with three hits, with both Avery Mercer and Riley Wilson following with two hits. Addi Johnson, Mercer and Wilson each had doubles, and Way picked up her first collegiate home run. Way went on to have two RBIs on the game. Southern Wesleyan walked five times and five ladies stole bases. Olivia Haag started game one on the mound and pitched six innings while striking out four batters to claim her second win of the season.
Southern Wesleyan totaled five hits in the second game of the afternoon. Both Hannah Truett and Olivia Haag doubled. Riley Wilson picked up the lone walk of the game, and Talissa Cannady was hit by a pitch. Amberly Way started game two on the mound and pitched two innings.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 8, Albany State 3
Game Two Final: Albany State 16, Southern Wesleyan 4
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-1) Albany State (1-1)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan got on the board early in the game. With one out in the top of the first, Addi Johnson reached on a walk and then stole second base. Avery Mercer singled to bring Johnson in to score. A passed ball allowed Mercer to advance to second base. Amberly Way hit a single to left field to bring Mercer home and give the Warriors a 2-0 run advantage.
The Warriors pushed on in the top of the third inning. With one out, Avery Mercer hit a double to left field. Amberly Way followed with a home run to bring Mercer in and increase the Warriors lead to 4-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Madison Truett walked and then Riley Wilson hit a double to left field to bring in Southern Wesleyan's fifth run of the game.
Albany State countered in the bottom of the fifth inning as an error and a double by McLeod allowed three runs to come in to score.
Southern Wesleyan pushed on in the top of the sixth inning. With two out, Taylor Palfrey singled to left field and then stole second base. Addi Johnson then hit a double to center field to score Palfrey and allow the Warriors to regain a three run advantage over the Golden Rams.
The Warriors scored their final runs of the game in the top of the seventh inning. Hannah Truett led off the inning with a single to left field and then advanced to second on a single by Amberly Way. Cassidy Dickson and Riley Brown came in to pinch run for Truett and Way. Talissa Cannady then singled to load up the bases. However, Olivia Haag hit into a fielder's choice that resulted in Dickson being called out at home. On the next play, Brown stole home to extend the Warriors lead to four runs. With two runners in scoring position, Chalee Roper popped up to short stop to bring Cannady in to score and give the Warriors an 8-3 run victory in game one.
Game Two
The Golden Rams went on the attack early in game two as they plated six runs before the third inning.
Southern Wesleyan challenged in the top of the third inning. Riley Wilson led off the inning with a walk. With two outs and Wilson on first, Avery Mercer hit a single to center field to advance Wilson to second base. Hannah Truett hit a double to center field to bring Wilson in to score.
Albany State pushed on as they extended their lead to 11-1 in the bottom of the third inning off several base hits and a double.
The Warriors scored again in the top of the fourth inning. Talissa Cannady led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and then advanced to third on a double to left field by Olivia Haag. Madison Truett grounded out to second base to bring Cannady in to score the second run of the day for Southern Wesleyan.
The Golden Rams brought five more runs across home plate in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Southern Wesleyan put two more runs on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Addi Johnson led off with a single to left field. A fielding error allowed Avery Mercer to reach second base and advanced Johnson to third, and then another error by the Golden Rams allowed Hannah Truett to reach first base. With the bases loaded and one out, Talissa Cannady hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Johnson in to score. Another error allowed Riley Brown to reach first and brought Mercer home for the final run of the day for the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan fell to Albany State in a 16-4 final in game two.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host their home opener on February 7 as they welcome the Clark Atlanta Panthers to Varsity Field for a double header beginning at 2pm. They will then travel over to neighboring Anderson University on February 9-10 to take on the Anderson Trojans and Benedict Tigers at the Anderson Tournament. The Warriors will then host the Georgia College Bobcats on February 16 at 2 and 4:30 pm.
