Spartanburg, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the series against the Converse Valkyries on Saturday. They dropped game one in an 11-9 final before taking game two 10-2.
The Warriors totaled eight hits in the first game of the afternoon. Addi Johnson and Madison Truett each had two hits. Johnson and Olivia Haag each had home runs. Riley Wilson had a triple. Johnson led the team with three RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked five times and Talissa Cannady stole a base. Olivia Haag started the game and pitched six innings while striking out three batters.
Southern Wesleyan picked up 11 hits in game two with four Warriors having two hits in the game. Talissa Cannady hit two home runs and Avery Mercer had one home run. Both Addi Johnson and Olivia Haag doubled. Cannady drove in three runs. Both Mercer and Madison Truett had two RBIs. The Warriors walked four times and Riley Wilson stole a base. Jaelyn Montfort started game two and pitched four innings while striking out one batter to have the win. Amberly Way picked up her first save of the season as she pitched three innings and struck out two batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Converse 11, Southern Wesleyan 9
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 10, Converse 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (16-12 / CC 6-2) Converse (14-20 / CC 3-5)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan took the first runs of the game in the top of the first inning. Taylor Palfrey led off with a walk. A single by Addi Johnson allowed Palfrey to advance to third. Johnson went on to advance to second on the throw. Avery Mercer hit the ball to right field, but an error on the play allowed both Palfrey and Johnson to come in to score and give the Warriors to lead.
Southern Wesleyan pushed on in the top of the second inning. With one out Madison Truett hit a single up the middle and then Taylor Palfrey walked. Addi Johnson drilled the ball over the center field wall for a three run home to extend the Warriors lead to 5-0.
The Valkyries countered in the bottom of the second inning as a double by Crabill and an error allowed three runs to come in to score.
The Warriors extended their lead to three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Taylor Palfrey led off with a single to left field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Talissa Cannady hit a single up the middle to bring Palfrey in to score.
In the top of the fifth inning the Warriors struck again. With two outs, Riley Wilson tripled to right field. Madison Truett then hit a single through the left side to bring Wilson in to score to take a 7-3 run lead over the Valkyries.
Converse countered in the bottom of the fifth inning as they came back within one run of the Warriors off a fielder's choice by Watson and a single by Dichio.
The Valkyries pushed on as they tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning off a single by Miles.
Southern Wesleyan regained the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Hannah Truett was hit by a pitch. With one out, Olivia Haag hit a home run over the center field wall to take a 9-7 run lead.
However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, a grand slam home run by Crabill allowed Converse to take the first game in an 11-9 run final.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan attacked first once again in game two of the series against Converse. With one out, Addi Johnson hit the ball to left field. The ball bounced out of the field for a ground rule double. Avery Mercer then hit a home run over the center field wall to put the Warriors on top 2-0.
The Warriors pushed further ahead in the top of the second inning. Amberly Way walked and then advanced to second as Olivia Haag hit a single to right center. A single by Riley Wilson loaded up the bases for Madison Truett. Truett knocked the ball to left center field for a single that brought both Way and Haag in to score.
Converse countered in the bottom of the second inning as a single by Albano brought in to score.
The Warriors took a five run in the top of the third inning. Avery Mercer was hit by a pitch. With Chalee Roper pinch running for Mercer, Talissa Cannady came up to the plate a drilled the ball over the left field wall for a home run to bring Roper in to score to extend the Warriors lead to 6-1.
The Valkyries came to within four runs of the Warriors in the bottom of the third inning as a single by Watson brought one run in.
Talissa Cannady led off the fifth inning by hitting her second home run of the game. With one out, Amberly Way reached first base on an error by the center fielder. She went on to come around to score on the play.
In the top of the seventh inning the Warriors distanced themselves further. Talissa Cannady led off with a walk and then advanced to second on a passed ball. A ground out by Abby Schreiner allowed Cannady to advance to third base. Amberly Way hit a sacrifice fly out to left field to bring Cannady in to score. With one out, Olivia Haag hit a double to right field. Haag came in to score on a single by Riley Wilson to give the Warriors a 10-2 run victory over the Valkyries in game two of the day.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Central, SC on March 28 as they host the Emmanuel Lions in a doubleheader beginning at 2pm. They will then travel to Greenwood, SC to take on the Lander Bearcats on April 2. The Warriors will host the University of Mount Olive Trojans and the Lees-McRae Bobcats on April 5-6.
