Albany, GA – Southern Wesleyan opened up the 2025 campaign with a sweep over the Albany State Golden Rams on Friday afternoon.  They took game one 9-1 before taking game two in a 8-2 final score.

The Warriors totaled 14 hits in the first game of the day.  Amberly Way and Maddie Crouch each picked up three hits.  Way led the Warriors with two home runs including a grand slam.  Way and Madison Truett each had doubles.  Chloe Smith pitched a complete game for Southern Wesleyan on the mound and struck out two batters.

Southern Wesleyan had 10 hits in game two with Rebecca Lamb leading the team with three hits.  Both Avery Mercer and Talissa Cannady had doubles, and Rebecca Lamb picked up her first collegiate home run.  The Warriors stole five bases in the game.  Olivia Haag started game two of the afternoon and struck out 12 batters.

Game Vitals

Final Game One: Southern Wesleyan 9, Albany State 1

Final Game Two: Southern Wesleyan 8, Albany State 2

Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-0) Albany State (0-2)

How It Happened

Game One

The Golden Rams took the first run of the game as a single by Thompson allowed Dixon to come in to score.

Southern Wesleyan countered in the top of the fifth inning.  Riley Brown led off the inning with a single to center field and then advanced to third base as Madison Truett hit a double past the shortstop.  With two in scoring position, Maddie Crouch hit a single to deep right field to bring Brown in to score and tie the game.  Crouch advanced to second base on the throw.  With two out and two in scoring position, Amberly Way came up to bat and drilled the ball over the fence for the first home run of the 2025 season, bringing three more runs in to score to give the Warriors a 4-1 run lead.

The Warriors extended their lead further in the top of the sixth inning.  Megan Ware led off the inning with a single to left field and then advanced to second base as Riley Brown walked.  Maddie Crouch laid down a bunt single to the pitcher to allow both Ware and Brown to advance.  Brown was called out due to interference, but Olivia Haag was hit by a pitch on the next play to load the bases up once again.  With the bases loaded, Talissa Cannady was hit by a pitch to bring Ware in to score.  Amberly Way drilled the ball over the center field wall for a grand slam home run to give the Warriors a 9-1 run victory over the Golden Rams.

Game Two

Southern Wesleyan went on the offensive early in game two as they brought two runs in to score in the top of the first inning.  Josie Shoemaker led off the inning with a walk and then stole second base.  A walk to Madison Truett put two runners on base.  With one out, Avery Mercer hit the ball to left field for a double that brought Shoemaker in to score and allowed Truett to advance to third base.  Rebecca Lamb reached on a walk to load up the bases and bring Megan Ware up to bat.  Ware hit into a fielder's choice that allowed Truett to come in to score to give the Warriors a 2-0 run advantage.

Home runs by Fisher in the bottom of the third and fourth innings allowed the Golden Rams to tie the game up at two.

In the top of the fourth inning, Reagan Fulcher reached first after being hit by a pitch.  Talissa Cannady came in to pinch run for Fulcher and then stole second base.  With two outs, Amberly Way hit a single off a line drive to left field to bring Cannady in to score to give the Warriors a 3-2 run lead.  Avery Mercer walked to put two on and bring Rebecca Lamb up to bat.  Lamb hit a home run over the center field wall to put Southern Wesleyan on top by four.

Southern Wesleyan attacked the plate again in the top of sixth inning.  Camille Lui hit a single to lead off and then stole second base to put her in scoring position.  Talissa Cannady hit a double to center field that allowed Lui to move to third base.  With two in scoring position, Maddie Crouch hit a single to bring Lui in to score and advance Cannady to third base.  Crouch then stole second base to put both runners in scoring position once again.  Madison Truett came up to bat and hit a ground out to the Golden Rams' shortstop, but Cannady was able to come in to score on the play to give the Warriors an 8-2 run victory in game two.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will travel to Fort Valley, GA on February 1 to take on Fort Valley State University.  They will remain on the road on February 8 as they travel to Anderson, SC to take on the Anderson Trojans in a double header beginning at noon.  They will then travel to Atlanta, GA to take on the Clark Atlanta Panthers on February 12.