Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the series against the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Thursday afternoon. The Warriors dropped game on 11-5 before claiming an extra inning walk-off victory in game two 7-6.
The Warriors had seven hits in game one. Amberly Way, Riley Wilson and Taylor Palfrey each had two hits with both Way and Wilson each having doubles. Wilson led the team with two RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked five times and Addi Johnson stole a base. Olivia Haag started game one in the circle and struck out two batters.
Southern Wesleyan totaled nine hits in the second game. Olivia Haag, Hannah Truett and Amberly Way each had two hits. Way doubled twice and both Haag and Addi Johnson had solo doubles. Way went on to record four of the seven RBIs. The Warriors walked four times and Taylor Palfrey had a stolen base. Jaelyn Montfort started in the circle and pitched seven innings while striking out four batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Young Harris 11, Southern Wesleyan 5
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 7, Young Harris 6
Records: Southern Wesleyan (18-25 / CC 8-14) Young Harris (28-20 / CC 15-7)
How It Happened
Game One
Young Harris struck quickly in game one as with two on base Carey hit a the ball over the fence to give the Mountain Lions a 3-0 run lead.
The Warriors countered in the bottom of the first inning. Addi Johnson led off with a single and then stole second base. Avery Mercer and Hannah Truett both walked to load up the bases. With the bases loaded, Amberly Way was hit by a pitch to bring in the first run of the game for the Warriors. Talissa Cannady hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Mercer in to score.
The Mountain Lions pushed on with runs in the top of the third, fourth and fifth innings.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Warriors challenged the Mountain Lions. With two outs, Amberly Way singled to left field and then advanced to second when Talissa Cannady walked. Riley Wilson doubled to center field to bring both runners in to score to put the Warriors down 7-4.
Young Harris brought three more runs in to score off two home runs in the top of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh inning, the Mountain Lions brought in their final run of the game.
Southern Wesleyan pushed on in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Amberly Way doubled to left center field. Riley Wilson walked. A single by Palfrey allowed Brown to come in to score. However, the Warriors dropped game one 11-5.
Game Two
The Mountain Lions once again struck first in game two as a single by Heal allowed two runs to come in to score.
Southern Wesleyan tied the game up in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Oliva Haag doubled to left field. However, a fielder's choice by Avery Mercer took Haag off the bases. Hannah Truett singled to advance Mercer to second. Amberly Way hit a double to left center field to bring both runners in to score to tie the game up 2-2.
The Warriors pushed on in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead. With one out, Rebecca Lamb pinch hit for Emmy Copeland and was hit by the first pitch of the at bat to put her on first. Copeland re-entered the game to run and advanced to second as Addi Johnson reached first on an error. Olivia Haag laid down a bunt single to load up the bases. Avery Mercer walked to bring Copeland in to score and keep the bases loaded. Hannah Truett hit the ball to center field for a single that allowed Johnson to score. With one out and the bases still loaded, Amberly Way hit a double to left center to bring Mercer and Haag in to score to put the Warriors ahead 6-2.
Young Harris fought back as a home run by Heal and a double by Fielden allowed four runs to score to allow the Mountain Lions to tie the game back up 6-6 and force the game to go to extra innings.
The Mountain Lions threatened in the top of the eighth inning, but Jaelyn Montfort was in command in the circle. With two outs, Brown drilled the ball to third base, but Riley Wilson snagged the ball to prevent Young Harris from taking the lead.
The Warriors claimed the victory in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the eighth inning. With Taylor Palfrey on second base, Emmy Copeland laid down a sacrifice bunt to allow Palfrey to advance to third. Addi Johnson followed with a walk. With runners at the corners, Olivia Haag hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Palfrey in to score and give the Warriors a 7-6 run victory over the Mountain Lions.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on April 20 as they travel to Due West, SC to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet in a double header beginning at 1pm.
