Belmont, NC – Southern Wesleyan picked up the series sweep over the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Monday afternoon. They claimed a 5-4 run victory in game one before taking down the Crusaders in 16-12 final score in game two.
The Warriors collected nine hits in the first game of the day with both Avery Mercer and Amberly Way having two hits. Mercer hit two home runs. Behind her Way, Talissa Cannady and Olivia Haag also hit home runs. Haag pitched a complete game in game one of the series as she struck out nine over the seven innings she pitched to get her fifth win of the season.
Southern Wesleyan picked up 14 hits in game two with Talissa Cannady leading the team with three hits. Addi Johnson hit two doubles and Olivia Haag had one double. Cannady, Amberly Way and Riley Wilson all had home runs. Cannady went on to have four RBIs. Both Way and Wilson had three RBIs. The Warriors walked four times and stole three bases. Cannady stole two bags and Hannah Truett had one steal. Way started game two and pitched an inning while striking out one. Jaelyn Montfort came in to pitch in relief and pitched six innings while striking out two strikeouts.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 5, Belmont Abbey 4
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 16, Belmont Abbey 12
Records: Southern Wesleyan (12-8 / CC 2-0) Belmont Abbey (8-7 CC 0-2)
How It Happened
Game One
Belmont Abbey struck first in the series opening game as singles by Allison and Sharpe allowed them to take a 2-0 run lead in the bottom of the third inning.
Southern Wesleyan countered in the top of the fourth inning. Avery Mercer led off the inning as she knocked the ball deep over the center field wall to put the Warriors within one run. They were not done as Amberly Way and Olivia Haag came up to the plate to hit back-to-back homes runs to put Southern Wesleyan on top 3-2.
A home run in the bottom of the fourth inning by Elkins allowed the Crusaders to tie the game back up 3-3.
The Warriors answered in the top of the sixth inning. Avery Mercer cleared the ball over the center field wall for her second home run of the afternoon to regain their lead. Talissa Canady followed her as she drilled the ball over the left center field fence for a home run to put Southern Wesleyan ahead 5-3.
The Crusaders challenged in the bottom seventh inning as Elkins homered again, but Southern Wesleyan claimed the opening game in a 5-4 final score.
Game Two
Once again, the Crusaders took the first runs of the game as a double down the right field line by Wunderlic allowed both Allison and Mele to come in to score to give Belmont Abbey a 2-0 run advantage.
Southern Wesleyan countered in the top of the second inning to put the Warriors on top. Talissa Cannady led off the inning with a single to third base and then stole second base. Hannah Truett walked, but a wild pitch on ball four allowed Cannady to advance to third base. With runners on the corners, Amberly Way drilled the ball over the center field wall for a home run to bring both Cannady and Truett in to score to give the Warriors a 3-2 run lead.
Belmont Abbey fought back in the bottom of the second inning as Holley and Presley each doubled to bring three runs in to score. Elkins hit a grand slam home run over the center field wall to extend the Crusaders lead to 9-3.
In the top of the third inning, the Warriors challenged back as Addi Johnson hit a double to right center field. A wild pitch allowed Johnson to advance to third and then Avery Mercer walked to put runners on the corners. Talissa Cannady hit into a fielder's choice that took Mercer off the bases, but also brought Johnson in to score. With Hannah Truett up to bat, a wild pitch allowed Cannady to advance to third base. Truett then hit a single up the middle to bring Cannady home. Jaelyn Montfort hit the ball to the pitcher for a single that advanced Truett to second. With two on and two out, Olivia Haag hit a double to right center field to bring Truett in to score to put Southern Wesleyan down 9-6 to Belmont Abbey.
The Warriors pushed on as they brought three more runs in to score in the top of the fourth inning. Madison Truett reached on a walk to lead off and then advanced to second on a ground out by Taylor Palfrey. With two outs, Avery Mercer hit the ball up the middle for a single that advanced Truett to third. Talissa Cannady followed with a single to center field to bring Truett in to score. An error on the play allowed Mercer to advance to third and put Cannady on second. Hannah Truett reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop that put Cannady on third and brought Mercer in to score. Cannady stole home to allow Southern Wesleyan to tie the game up 9-9.
Belmont Abbey countered in the bottom of the fourth as a wild pitch and a ground out allowed two more runs to come in to put the Crusaders on top 11-9.
In the top of the fifth inning, Olivia Haag reached first after being hit by a pitch. Riley Wilson came up to bat and drilled the ball over the center field wall for a home run that brought Haag in to score to tie the game back up. After a pitching change, Madison Truett hit a single up the middle and then advanced to second on a ground out by Taylor Palfrey. With Truett on second, Addi Johnson hit the ball down the left field line for a double that brought Truett home. Johnson advanced to third on a ground out by Mercer. A passed ball allowed Johnson to come in to score to put Southern Wesleyan back on top 13-11.
Southern Wesleyan was not done as they attacked the plate once again in the top of the sixth inning. Hannah Truett led off with a single. However, Olivia Haag hit into a fielder's choice that took Truett off the bases. With two outs, back-to-back wild pitches allowed Haag to advance all the way to third base. Riley Wilson then hit a single up the middle to bring Haag in to score.
The Warriors took a five run lead in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Avery Mercer walked. Chalee Roper came in to pinch run for Mercer. Talissa Cannady then came up to bat and hit the ball over the left center field wall for a home run that gave the Warriors a 16-11 run lead.
The Crusaders challenged in the bottom of the seventh off a single by Wunderlic, but Southern Wesleyan claimed their second Conference Carolinas victory of the day as they beat Belmont Abbey in a 16-12 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on March 12 as they travel to Milledgesville, GA to take on the Georgia College Bobcats. The Warriors will then return to Varsity Field on March 15 as they host the Young Harris Mountain Lions. They will then travel to Tigerville, SC to take on the North Greenville Crusaders on March 16.
