Central, SC – In the Warriors' home opener, Southern Wesleyan put up a record breaking performance as they swept the Clark Atlanta Panthers. The Warriors broke the school record in game one as they brought 25 runs in to score to win in a 25-0 final. They went on to take game two in a 10-0 final.
The Warriors totaled 17 hits in game one with Riley Brown leading the team with three. Southern Wesleyan picked up five home runs in the game. Talissa Cannady had two home runs, and Madison Truett, Mackinzie Jefferson and Abby Schreiner each had one home run. Maddie Crouch and Chloe Smith tripled, and Schreiner, Camille Lui and Riley Brown (2) doubled during the game. The Warrior walked eight times and stole four bases. Chloe Smith started game one on the mound and struck out one batter while pitching two innings. Bailey Throckmorton and Ella Grace Lawton came in to pitch in relief. Throckmorton picked up her first career win after pitching two innings and striking out three batters. Lawton struck out two in one inning pitched.
Southern Wesleyan had eight hits in the second game of the afternoon. Both Maddie Crouch and Rebecca Lamb had two hits. Olivia Haag hit a home run, and Crouch had a double. Haag led the team with four RBIs. Southern Wesleyan stole six bases with both Avery Mercer and Haag stealing two. Emily Collins started the game in the circle and pitched one inning while striking out one batter. Haag and Jaelyn Montfort came in to pitch in relief. Haag picked up the win after pitching three innings and striking out two batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Clark Atlanta 0
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 10, Clark Atlanta 0
Records: Southern Wesleyan (7-0) Clark Atlanta (2-8)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan came out swinging as they brought six runs in to score in the bottom of the first inning. Maddie Crouch led off with a single then stole second to get into scoring position. Madison Truett singled to center field to bring Crouch in to score. Truett stole second and Avery Mercer walked to put two on. With two outs, Abby Schreiner hit a double to right center field to bring both Truett and Mercer in to score to extend the Warriors lead to 3-0. Olivia Haag reached first after being hit by a pitch to put two on base and bring Talissa Cannady up to bat. Cannady drilled the ball up over the scoreboard in left field for a three run home that gave the Warriors a 6-0 run lead.
Maddie Crouch led off the second inning for the Warriors and hit the ball to deep right field for a triple. With Crouch feet away from home, Madison Truett sent the ball over the left field wall for her first home run of the 2025 season. With one out, Rebecca Lamb walked and then came in to score on a triple by Chloe Smith. An error on the triple by Smith allowed Smith to come in to score on the same play. With the bases clear, Abby Schreiner sent the ball over the left field wall for a solo home run. Talissa Cannady came up to bat and picked up her second home run of the game as she sent the ball over the left field wall to give the Warriors a 12-0 run lead.
Southern Wesleyan attacked the plate again in the bottom of the fourth inning. Josie Shoemaker led off by reaching first on an error by the Panthers' shortstop. Shoemaker then stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Camille Lui walked and then stole second base to put both runners in scoring position. A passed ball allowed Shoemaker to come in to score and put Lui on third base. Ayden Leaphart hit a single to first base to bring Lui across home plate. A passed ball allowed Leaphart to advanced to second base. McKenzie Bab and Reagan Fulcher were each hit by pitches to load up the bases. Sarah Woody hit into a fielder's choice that took Leaphart off the bases. With the bases loaded, Riley Brown hit a double to center field to bring both Babb and Fulcher in to score. Liv Hall hit a single to the pitcher to load the bases once again. A walk to Abby Schreiner brought Woody across home plate. Josie Shoemaker singled to third base to bring Brown in and then a wild pitch allowed Hall to come in to score. With two runners in scoring position, Camille Lui doubled to left field to bring Schreiner in to extend the Warriors lead to 20-0. Ayden Leaphart walked to load the bases, and then a McKenzie Babb walked to bring in another run. Reagan Fulcher hit a fly out to center field to bring Lui in to score. With Babb and Leaphart on base, Mackinzie Jefferson came up to bat and sent the ball over the left field fence for her first collegiate home run to give the Warriors a 25-0 run victory over the Panthers.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan went on the offensive early in game two as they brought four runs in to score in the bottom of the first inning. Maddie Crouch led off the inning with a double. Back-to-back walks to Madison Truett and Avery Mercer loaded up the bases. Rebecca Lamb came up to bat and hit a single to bring Crouch in to score. With the bases still loaded, Abby Schreiner hit a single to left field to bring Truett in to score. A fielder's choice by Olivia Haag took Schreiner off the bases, but allowed Mercer to score. Haag then stole second to put both runners in scoring position for Talissa Cannady. Cannady hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to bring Lamb in to score to give the Warriors a 4-0 run lead.
The Warriors attacked again in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Riley Brown walked and then stole second base. Maddie Crouch hit a single to third base and then advanced to second on the error. Brown came in to score on the play to extend the Warriors lead to 5-0. Madison Truett hit a single to short stop to bring Crouch in to score. However, Truett was caught stealing on the next play to take her off the base pads. Avery Mercer singled to center field and then stole second base. Rebecca Lamb hit the ball down the let field line to bring Mercer in to score to extend the Warriors lead to 7-0. Lamb stole second and then Abby Schreiner walked to bring Olivia Haag up to bat. Haag sent the ball over the center fielder wall for her second home run of the season to give the Warriors a 10-0 run victory over the Panthers in game two.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Orangeburg, SC to take on the Claflin Panthers on February 20. They will return to Varsity Field to host the Tusculum Pioneers on February 21 in a doubleheader beginning at 3pm. The Warriors will travel to Mars Hill, NC on February 26.
