Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the non-conference game against the Anderson Trojans on Tuesday evening in a 10-5 final score.
The Warriors totaled five hits including a double by Clay Porter and a home run by Cam Mitchem. Derek Francis led the team with two RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked five times and four Warriors were hit by a pitch.
Eric Yelton started the game on the mound and pitched four innings while striking out three batters. Six Warriors came in to pitch in relief. The other strikeouts came out of the gloves of Jaylen Morgan, Jackson Turner and Adrian Abad.
Game Vitals
Final: Anderson 10, Southern Wesleyan 5
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-3) Anderson (2-2)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan claimed the first run of the game as Cam Mitchem drilled the ball over the left field wall for his second home run of the season and first at Dr C Keith Connor Field of the season. With one out, Jarrett Whitley was hit by a pitch and then advance to second on a wild pitch. A passed ball on a ball four allowed Whitley to advance to third and put Zachary Kim on first base. Jason Culley walked to load up the bases. Travis Hammond grounded out to bring Whitley home and extend the Warriors lead to 2-0.
The Trojans threatened in the top of the third inning as a sacrifice fly out by Carlos Hernandez allowed Mac Ketchin to score. Luke Poole followed with a single to drive in the second run for the Trojans to tie the game up 2-2.
Anderson took the lead on a lead-off home run by Kye Andress in the top of the fifth inning.
The Warriors threatened once again in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jason Culley led off reaching on a walk. A sacrifice bunt by Travis Hammond allowed Culley to advance to second. Clay Porter then walked and Jack Dennison hit a single to right field to load up the bases. Marty Grisso hit the ball deep to left center field to bring Culley in to score to allow the Warriors to tie the game back up.
The Trojans regained the lead in the top of the seventh inning as Hernandez hit into a double play that allowed Andress to come in to score and give Anderson a 4-3 run advantage.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Warriors fought back as Clay Porter hit a double down the left field line. Marty Grisso and Cam Mitchem were both hit by pitches to load up the bases. Derek Francis hit the ball high into the air into left center field for a single to bring both Porter and Grisso came in to score to give the Warriors a 5-4 run lead.
Anderson regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning as a walk to Ketchin and a dropped third strike pop up by Andress brought two runs in to score to take a 6-5 run lead. In the top of the ninth inning, the Trojans extended their lead further as a triple and a double allowed them to win the game in a 10-5 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Hickory, NC on February 9-10 to take on the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears. They will remain on the road on February 13 as they take on the Limestone Saints at 5pm. The Warriors will host their Conference Carolinas opener on February 16-17 as they welcome the Belmont Abbey Crusaders to Dr C Keith Connor Field.
