St. Petersburg, FL – The Warriors dropped the opening two games of the series against the Eckerd Tritons. They dropped game one 6-2 and then fell in game two in a 6-4 final score.
Southern Wesleyan totaled five hits in the first game of the afternoon. Marty Grisso led the team with two hits including a double. Cam Mitchem hit a home run. The Warriors walked five times and Grisso stole a base. Alex Sweeney started on the mound for Southern Wesleyan and pitched six innings while striking out four. Jacob Webb came in to pitch in relief.
The Warriors had 10 hits in the second game. Justin Purdom led the Warriors by going four for four at the plate. Cam Mitchem followed with three hits. All four RBIs came off of Mitchem's bat as he hit two home runs. The Warriors walked twice. Kyle Dixon started game two and pitched four innings while striking out two. Steven Mufareh and Gehrig Schreiber came in to pitch in relief.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Eckerd 6, Southern Wesleyan 2
Game Two Final: Eckerd 6, Southern Wesleyan 4
Records: Southern Wesleyan (6-27) Eckerd (13-15)
How It Happened
Game One
The Tritons took the first runs of the game of the series in the bottom of the second inning. A single by Ericson brought one run in to score and then a wild pitch allowed Ericson to cross home plate.
They extended their lead in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to extend their lead to 6-0.
Southern Wesleyan challenged in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Jason Culley walked. A double to left center field by Marty Grisso allowed Culley to come in to score.
Cam Mitchem drilled the ball over the left field wall in the top of the ninth inning. However, the Warriors could not bring another run in to score as the Tritons took game one in a 6-2.
Game Two
The Warriors attacked the plate early in the second game of the afternoon. In the top of the first inning with two outs, Cam Mitchem hit the ball over the right field wall for a home run to put the Warriors on top 1-0.
Eckerd tied the game up in the bottom of the second inning off a sacrifice fly by Schumaker.
Southern Wesleyan regained the lead in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Jason Culley singled to left center. Marty Grisso walked to allow Culley to advance to second. With two on and two out, Cam Mitchem hit his second home run of game to put the Warriors on top 4-1.
The Tritons pushed on with runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to allow them to take a 5-4 run lead. Eckerd scored once more to win the second game of the series in a 6-4 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on April 2 as they travel to Rome, GA to take on the Shorter Hawks. The Warriors will travel to Mount Olive, NC on April 5-6 as they resume Conference Carolinas action against the University of Mount Olive Trojans.
