Mars Hill, NC – Warriors rally late, but fall to Mars Hill Lions in a 15-10 final score on Tuesday afternoon.
The Warriors picked up 10 hits in the loss to the Lions. Marty Grisso led the team with four RBIs off his two home runs of the game. Cam Mitchem, Jarrett Whitley and TJ Highsmith each doubled. Blayze Haddock had a triple. Southern Wesleyan walked nine times and Jason Culley stole two bases.
Ash Faulk started the game on the mound and pitched one inning while striking out one batter. Five batters came in to pitch in relief. Garrett Swink led the team with three strike outs. Both Bryce Metts and Gehrig Schreiber struck out two.
Game Vitals
Final: Mars Hill 15, Southern Wesleyan 10
Records: Southern Wesleyan (6-38) Mars Hill (14-27)
How It Happened
Mars Hill attacked the plate quickly in the bottom of the first inning as they brought six runs in to score. They extended their lead in the bottom of the second inning as they plated two more runs.
Southern Wesleyan countered in the top of the third inning. With one out, Luke Staton walked and then advanced to second base when Gage Shaver hit a single to center field. Blayze Haddock stepped up to the plate and hit the ball to deep right field for a triple that brought both Staton and Shaver in to score. Cam Mitchem followed with a double to center field to bring Haddock in to score to put the Warriors behind the Lions 8-3.
The Lions regained their seven run lead in the bottom of the third inning as they brought two more runs in to score. They pushed on with another run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Marty Grisso came up to the plate and drilled the ball over the fence for his second home run of the season. Zachary Kim was hit by a pitch and then, on back-to-back wild pitches and passed balls, advanced to third. TJ Highsmith followed with a walk and then got into scoring position on a wild pitch. With two in scoring position, Jason Culley hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Kim in to score.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Warriors struck again. With one out, Cam Mitchem walked and then advanced to second as Jarrett Whitley laid down a single. Marty Grisso sent the ball over the fence once again for his second home run of the game to bring both Mitchem and Whitley in to score and put the Warriors behind the Lions 11-8.
Mars Hill pushed on with three more runs in the seventh and one run in the eighth inning.
Southern Wesleyan challenged again in the top of the ninth inning. TJ Highsmith led off the inning with a double to center field and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jason Culley walked and then stole second base to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Luke Staton ground out to shortstop to bring Highsmith in to score and allow Culley to advance to third base. A ground out by Gage Shaver allowed Culley to come in to score. However, the Warriors fell to the Lions in a 15-10 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host their final home series of the semester on April 19-20 as they welcome the Francis Marion Patriots to Dr. C Keith Connor Field. The Warriors will celebrate senior day on April 20 prior to the first pitch of game one of the double header. Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on April 26-27 as they travel to Pembroke, NC to take on the UNC Pembroke Braves.
