Americus, GA – Southern Wesleyan fell in both games in the opening doubleheader against the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes on Saturday. They dropped game one 6-2 before falling in game two 9-8.
Southern Wesleyan picked up four hits in the first game of the series. Luke Taylor hit his first home run in a Warrior uniform. Both Marty Grisso and Taylor had the RBIs of the game. Tristan Tillman stole two bases with Cam Mitchem also picking up a stolen base. Lukas Arvantides started game one and pitched 4.2 innings while striking out six batters.
The Warriors totaled six hits in game two with both Tristan Tillman and Cam Mitchem picking up two hits. Tillman, Mitchem and Luke Taylor doubled during the game. Tillman and Mitchem each had RBIs in the game. Southern Wesleyan stole four bases with Tillman picking up two steals. Taylor and Harrison Garrett also stole bases. Mason Clark started game two on the mound and pitched two innings while striking out two batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Georgia Southwestern 6, Southern Wesleyan 2
Game Two Final: Georgia Southwestern 9, Southern Wesleyan 8
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-2) Georgia Southwestern (2-0)
How It Happened
Game One
The Hurricanes struck first as they brought two runs in to score in the bottom of the fourth inning off singles by Wainman and Hernand.
Southern Wesleyan cut Georgia Southwestern's lead in half in the top of the fifth inning as Luke Taylor sent the ball over the right field wall to put the Warriors down 2-1.
Georgia Southwestern went on the offensive once again in the bottom of the sixth inning as a series of hits allowed them to bring four runs across home plate.
The Warriors challenged in the top of the eighth inning. Griffin Pickhardt led off the inning by reaching first on a walk. With Ethan Jarvis pinch running, Jason Culley hit into a fielder's choice that took Jarvis off the bases. Culley then advanced to second on a passed ball. Back-to-back walks to Tristan Tillman and Cam Mitchem loaded up the bases for Marty Grisso. Grisso hit a deep fly out to right field to bring Culley in to score. However, it was not enough as the Hurricanes took game one in a 6-2 final score.
Game Two
The Hurricanes were the first on the board in game two of the series as they brought three runs in to score in the bottom of the first inning. They scored again in the bottom of the second and third innings to extend their lead to 6-0.
The Warriors challenged in the top of the fifth. Luke Taylor led off the inning by hitting a double down the left field line. Vincent Angle walked to put two on base and bring Jason Culley up to bat. Culley reached first on a throwing error after he laid down a sacrifice bunt. On the error, Angle advanced to third and Taylor came in to score the first run of the game for Southern Wesleyan. A wild pitch allowed both Angle to come in to score and Culley to advance to second base. With Culley in scoring position, Tristan Tillman hit a double down the left field to bring Culley across home plate. Tillman advanced to third base on a throwing error by the pitcher off a failed pick-off attempt. With Tillman ninety feet from home, Cam Mitchem hit a single toe left center field to bring in the Warriors fourth run of the inning.
Southern Wesleyan challenged once again in the top of the seventh inning as walks to Tristan Tillman, Cam Mitchem and Marty Grisso loaded up the bases, but Daniel Hernandez and the Hurricanes infield were able to get the next two batters out to prevent the Warriors from taking away their lead.
Georgia Southwestern brought in three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend their lead to 9-4.
In the top of the eighth inning, Southern Wesleyan scored again. With one out, Luke Taylor reached first after being hit by a pitch. Taylor advanced to second on a wild pitch. Harrison Garrett walked to put two runners on. With Jack Dennison pinch hitting for Ethan Jarvis, Garrett and Taylor each stole a base. Taylor then came in to score on a throwing error by the Hurricane's catcher while Garrett advanced to third on the same play. Another wild pitch allowed Garrett to come in to score to put the Warriors behind the Hurricanes 9-6. The Warriors continued to chip away at the Hurricanes lead as Jack Dennison and Tristan Tillman each reached base on walks. Cam Mitchem hit a ground out to third base that allowed both runners to move up a base. A wild pitch brought Dennison in to score and then Tillman stole home plate to put Southern Wesleyan within one run of Georgia Southwestern. However, the Warriors fell to the Hurricanes in a 9-8 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will wrap up the three game series against Georgia Southwestern on February 2 with first pitch scheduled for 2pm. They will then travel to Milledgeville, GA to take on the Georgia College Bobcats on February 4. Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on February 6 as they travel to Anderson, SC to take on the Anderson Trojans.
