Tigerville, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the series against the North Greenville Crusaders on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors took game one as Olivia Haag pitched a complete game shutout to lead them to a 7-0 run victory. Southern Wesleyan dropped game two in a 8-2 final score.
The Warriors picked up nine hits with Addi Johnson leading the team with two hits. Johnson had two triples and Olivia Haag picked up the other triple. Riley Wilson hit a home run. Both Avery Mercer and Wilson picked up two RBIs. Wilson had the lone walk, and both Chalee Roper and Talissa Cannady stole bases. Olivia Haag started the game in the circle and struck out five while pitching a complete game shutout.
Southern Wesleyan had two hits in game two. Riley Wilson and Madison Truett had the lone hits of the game. The Warriors walked three times and Taylor Palfrey picked up a stolen base. Amberly Way started in the mound for the Warriors and pitched 4.1 innings and struck out four. Jaelyn Montfort came in to pitch in relief and struck out one batter while pitching 1.2 innings.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 7, North Greenville 0
Game Two Final: North Greenville 8, Southern Wesleyan 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (13-11 / CC 3-1) North Greenville (20-10 / CC 4-2)
How It Happened
Game One
Olivia Haag and Karley Green battled it out in the circle for the five innings as they each prevented the other team from getting on the board.
The Warriors broke through in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Addi Johnson hit a triple to right center field. Avery Mercer reached on an error that allowed Johnson to come in to score to put Southern Wesleyan ahead 1-0.
They extended their lead further in the top of the seventh inning. Amberly Way led off the inning with a single to left field. Riley Brown came in to pinch run for Way. Olivia Haag hit the ball to center field for a triple to bring Brown in to score. The Warriors took a four run lead as Riley Wilson drilled the ball over the left field wall. Abby Schreiner hit a single through the left side and then Emmy Copeland came in to pinch run for Schreiner. A ground out by Taylor Palfrey allowed Copeland to come in to score. A triple by Addi Johnson brought Copeland across home plate. Avery Mercer came up to bat and singled through the right side to bring Johnson in. Talissa Cannady ground out to allow Mercer to advance to second base. With two outs and Mercer in scoring position, Hannah Truett hit a single through the right side to advance Mercer to third. An error on the play allowed Truett to come in to score to give the Warriors a 7-0 game one victory over the Crusaders.
Game Two
The Crusaders attacked the plate early in game two of the afternoon as they brought six runs in to score in the bottom of the first inning.
Neither team was able to score until the bottom of the fourth inning when a double by Bishop allowed Green to score to extend North Greenville's lead to 7-0.
Southern Wesleyan challenged in the top of the fifth inning. Hannah Truett singled up the middle and then advanced to third base on a single by Amberly Way. With runners on the corners, Olivia Haag walked to load up the bases. Riley Wilson then hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to bring Truett in to score. Madison Truett lined out to right field to bring Way across home plate to put Southern Wesleyan behind North Greenville 7-2.
The Crusaders struck again in the bottom of the fifth inning to plate one more run and win the game in an 8-2 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Varsity Field on March 19 as they host the Erskine Flying Fleet in a doubleheader beginning at 2pm. They will then travel to Spartanburg, SC on March 23 to take on the Converse Valkyries. On March 27, Southern Wesleyan will welcome the Emmanuel Lions to Central, SC.
