Anderson, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell on the road to the Anderson Trojans on Tuesday evening in an 11-8 final score.
The Warriors picked up 14 hits in the loss to the Trojans. Both Jason Culley and Jarrett Whitley had three hits. Cam Mitchem hit a home run and Culley doubled. Mitchem and Gage Shaver each had two RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked seven times and both Clay Porter and Marty Grisso stole bases.
Alex Sweeney started on the mound and pitched three innings while striking out two batters. Five Warriors came in to pitch in relief. Ash Faulk, Jacob Webb and Garrett Swink each struck out one.
Game Vitals
Final: Anderson 11, Southern Wesleyan 8
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-23) Anderson (12-14)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan attacked the plate first in the game as they brought two runs in to score in the top of the first inning. With one out, Clay Porter hit a single up the middle and then advanced to second when Marty Grisso walked. Both Porter and Grisso stole bases to put both of them in scoring position. Cam Mitchem hit a ground out to bring Porter in to score. With Grisso at second, Gage Shaver singled to right field to bring Grisso in and give the Warriors a 2-0 run lead.
However, Anderson cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first inning as a single by Gray Wells allowed Zach Stover to come in to score.
The Warriors pushed on in the top of the second inning. Josh Long led off with a walk. Derek Francis reached first on an error that allowed Long to advance all the way to third. With two on, Jason Culley hit a double to right center to bring Long in to score. However, Francis was thrown out at home on the play. A single by Clay Porter allowed Culley to cross home plate to extend the Warriors lead to 4-1.
The Trojans put more runs on the board in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to put them back within one run of the Warriors.
Southern Wesleyan regained their two run lead in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Jarrett Whitley hit a single to right field and then advanced to second base when Chase Gribble walked. Josh Long came up to bat and hit a single to left field to bring Whitley in to score.
A sacrifice fly out by Carson Jones allowed the Trojans to come back to within one run of the Warriors in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, Southern Wesleyan attacked again. Jason Culley hit a single up the middle and then advanced to second base as Clay Porter laid down a sacrifice bunt. Marty Grisso hit a single to third base to put two on, and then a single to right field by Cam Mitchem loaded up the bases. With the bases loaded, Gage Shaver hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to bring Culley in to score. Jarrett Whitley followed by hitting a single to center field to bring Grisso in.
Anderson continued to challenge the Warriors as they brought six runs in to score in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead for the first time in the game.
Cam Mitchem drilled the ball over the left field wall in the top of the eighth inning. However, the Trojans pushed on to win the game in an 11-8 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will return to Dr. C Keith Connor Field on March 22-23 as they host the King Tornado for their Alumni and Homecoming games. They will remain at home on March 27 as they host the Limestone Saints in a non-conference game at 5pm. Southern Wesleyan will travel down to St. Petersburg, FL on March 29-30 to take on Eckerd College.
