Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan picked up their first series sweep of the season as they claimed the final two games of the series against the Francis Marion Patriots. They took game one in a 7-6 eighth inning walk-off. They then claimed a 13-5 run victory in game two of the day.
The Warriors collected 13 hits in the first game of the afternoon. Blayze Haddock, Cam Mitchem and Zachary Kim each had two hits. Both Mitchem and Marty Grisso doubled, and Mitchem hit a home run over the batters eye in center field. Mitchem and Jarrett Whitley each had two RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked five times and stole four bases. Haddock led the team with two steals while both Gage Shaver and Luke Staton had solo steals. Christopher Hund started game one and pitched six innings and struck out seven batters. Nick Vollmert pitched two innings in relief and struck out one.
Southern Wesleyan totaled 16 hits in game two with senior Cam Mitchem leading the team with three. Mitchem went on to have three RBIs. Mitchem, Jarrett Whitley, Marty Grisso, Justin Purdom and Luke Staton each doubled and Gage Shaver picked up a triple. Blayze Haddock and Cam Mitchem had back-to-back home runs. The Warriors walked four times and Derek Francis stole a base. Nick Vollmert started game two and pitched one inning. Six Warriors came in to pitch in relief. Both Kyle Dixon and Ash Faulk struck out two.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 7, Francis Marion 6
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 13, Francis Marion 5
Records: Southern Wesleyan (9-38 / CC 7-20) Francis Marion (16-28 / CC 7-20)
How It Happened
Game One
Francis Marion brought one run in to score in the top of the first inning off a sacrifice fly out by Summerville.
The Warriors countered in the bottom of the first inning. Blayze Haddock led off the inning with a single up the middle and then stole second. With Haddock at second base, Cam Mitchem came up to the plate and drilled the ball over the center field wall just over the top of the batter's eye to give Southern Wesleyan a 2-1 run lead.
Southern Wesleyan pushed further ahead as they brought three more runs in to score in the bottom of the first inning. TJ Highsmith led off with a walk. Jason Culley hit a single through the right side to bring Highsmith in to score. A ground out by Luke Staton allowed both Culley and Highsmith to advance a base. Blayze Haddock hit a single through the left side to bring Highsmith in to score. Haddock then stole second base. The Patriots intentionally walked Cam Mitchem to bring Gage Shaver up to the plate. However, a wild pitch allowed Culley to cross home plate. Gage Shaver walked a couple pitches later to load up the bases once again. With the bases loaded, Jarrett Whitley hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Haddock in to score and put Southern Wesleyan ahead 5-1.
The Patriots challenged right back as with two on, an error by the Warriors third baseman allowed Starkey to come in to score.
In the top of the fourth inning, Francis Marion tied the game up as Wilson hit the ball over the left field fence to bring three runs in to score.
The Warriors regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Cam Mitchem was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Gage Shaver followed with a walk. With two on, Jarrett Whitley hit a single through the left side to bring Mitchem in to score the sixth run of the game for the Warriors.
The lead was short lived as a solo home run by Stout tied the game back up 6-6 to force the game to go into extra innings.
Southern Wesleyan maintained their enthusiasm at the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, Marty Grisso drilled the ball down the left field line for a double. Zachary Kim came up to the plate and hit a single through the right side to bring Grisso in to score to give the Warriors a 7-6 walk-off victory.
Game Two
The Patriots took the first run of game two off a bases loaded walk to Taylor.
Southern Wesleyan countered in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Cam Mitchem walked and then advanced to second as Gage Shaver was hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice took Shaver off the bases and put Jarrett Whitley at first base. With runners at the corners, Marty Grisso came up to plate and hit a double to deep left field to bring both Mitchem and Whitley in to score.
The Warriors lead was countered in the top of the second inning as a sacrifice fly by Wilson allowed Falor to cross home plate to tie the game up 2-2.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Warriors regained the lead. With one out, Jarrett Whitley hit a single through the left side of the infield. A single by Marty Grisso put two runners on and brought Zachary Kim up to bat. Kim hit a single to right center field to bring Whitley in to score to put the Warriors up 3-2.
The Patriots attacked the plate again in the top of the fourth inning as they brought three runs in to score to take a 5-3 run lead.
Southern Wesleyan cut Francis Marion's lead down to one in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, Cam Mitchem walked. Gage Shaver hit the ball to left center field where it took a bounce and sailed over the center fielder's head. Shaver stretched it out to reach third base and bring Mitchem in to score to put the Warriors behind the Patriots 5-4.
The Warriors regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Jason Culley led off the inning by hitting a single up the middle. Luke Staton then laid down a sacrifice bunt to allow Culley to advance to second base. Blayze Haddock was hit by a pitch. With two on, Cam Mitchem drilled the ball down the left field line for a double that allowed both runners to come in to score.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Warriors extended their lead further. Zachary Kim led off the inning with a single up the middle. Justin Purdom hit a double down the left field line to allow Kim to advance to third. Travis Hammond came in to pinch run for Purdom. Jason Culley stepped up to the plate and hit a single through the right side to bring both Kim and Hammond in to score. An error on the play then allowed Culley to advance to second. Luke Staton put down another sacrifice bunt to allow Culley to advance to third. With Culley ninety feet away from home, Blayze Haddock stepped up to the plate and drilled the ball over the left field fence for his second home run of the season. Seconds later, on a 1-0 count, Cam Mitchem sent the ball to the exact same place to put the Warriors ahead 11-5. With two outs, Jarrett Whitley hit a double down the left field line and then Marty Grisso walked. A dropped third strike passed ball to Zachary Kim loaded up the bases once again. Travis Hammond hit a single to left field to bring both Whitley and Grisso in to score to give the Warriors a 13-5 run victory over the Patriots.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on the road as they travel to Pembroke, NC to take on the UNC Pembroke Braves on April 26-27.
