Belmont, NC – Southern Wesleyan split their conference opening double header against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Friday. The Warriors claimed game one in a 5-4 final before dropping game two 9-5.
Southern Wesleyan collected eight hits in the first game of the afternoon with Jack Dennison leading the team with two hits. Dennison had two of the four RBIs. The Warriors walked four times and both Tristan Tillman and Dennison stole bases. Gage Shaver started game one on the mound and pitched five innings while striking out five. Garrett Swink and Bryce Metts came in to pitch in relief for the Warriors. Swink pitched 1.1 innings to claim the win and Metts closed the game down while striking out two batters to get the save.
The Warriors had seven hits in the second game of the day. Both Jack Dennison and Ryan Postnieks had two hits. Dennison led the team with two of the five RBIs. Vincent Angle was the lone Warrior to walk. Tristin Tillman stole two bases while Postnieks had one steal. Lukas Arvantides started game two on the mound and pitched 3.1 innings while striking out four batters. Both Kyle Dixon and Logan Brazell came in to pitch in relief.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 5, Belmont Abbey 4
Game Two Final: Belmont Abbey 9, Southern Wesleyan 5
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-8 / CC 1-1) Belmont Abbey (7-2 / CC 1-1)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan went on the offensive in the top of the first inning. Tristan Tillman led off the inning by reaching first after being hit by a pitch. Tillman then stole second to get into scoring position. Jack Dennison drilled the ball through the right side of the field and into right field for a single that brought Tillman in to score to give the Warriors the first run of the afternoon.
The Crusaders countered in the bottom of the second inning as a double by Golembe allowed two runs to come in to score to give Belmont Abbey a 2-1 run lead.
A single by Risk and a double by Velotta allowed Belmont Abbey to extend their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third inning.
The Warriors plated another run in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, Jack Dennison reached on a walk and then stole second to get into scoring position. Cam Mitchem reached on a walk to put two runners on. With two out and two on, Marty Grisso hit the ball out to right field. The right fielder dropped the ball for an error that put Grisso on first and allowed Dennison to come in to score.
Southern Wesleyan would not back down as they attacked the plate once again. With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Griffin Pickhardt hit a single to center field. Pickhardt advanced to second on a wild pitch and then made it to third on a ground out by Ryan Postnieks. Jason Culley followed with a walk to put runners at the corners and bring Tristan Tillman up to bat. Tillman knocked the ball into right field for a single that brought Pickhardt in to score. Jack Dennison came up to bat and put the ball into play for a single that scored Cully to tie the game up and force the Crusaders to make a pitching change. With a new pitcher on the mound for Belmont Abbey and two runners on, Cam Mitchem hit a single up the middle to bring Tillman in to score and give Southern Wesleyan a 5-4 run victory over the Crusaders.
Game Two
The Warriors went on the offensive first once again as they brought a run in to score in the top of the first inning. Tristan Tillman led off the inning by reaching first after a fielding error by the Crusaders' first baseman occurred. Tillman then stole both second and third bases to put him in scoring position. With Tillman ninety feet from home, Cam Mitchem grounded out to the shortstop to allow Tillman to come in to score to give Southern Wesleyan the early lead.
Belmont Abbey tied the game up in the bottom of the second inning as a single by Golembe allowed Fattore to come in to score.
The Crusaders extended their lead as they brought runs in to score in the third, fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead to 7-1.
Southern Wesleyan challenged in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Luke Taylor reached on an error by the Crusaders' second baseman. A failed pick-off attempted allowed Taylor to advance to second base. Vincent Angle walked and then Ryan Postnieks hit a single through the left side to load up the bases. With the bases loaded, Jason Culley hit a single down past first base to bring Taylor in to score. Tristan Tillman was hit by a pitch to bring in Southern Wesleyan's third run of the game. Jack Dennison came up to bat with the bases loaded and hit a single to right center field to bring both Culley and Postnieks in to score to put the Warriors behind the Crusaders 7-5.
Belmont Abbey extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as they brought two more runs in to score to win the game in a 9-5 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the series against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on February 17 at 4pm. They will then return to Central, SC on February 18 to take on the Mars Hill Lions. The Warriors will resume Conference Carolinas action on February 21-22 as they host the University of Mount Olive Trojans.
