Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the double header against the Tusculum Pioneers on Friday evening. The Warriors dropped game one 3-1 before taking game two in walk-off fashion off a solo home run by Amberly Way in an 11-10 final.
The Warriors recorded three hits in the first game. Amberly Way picked up the lone RBI of the game as she recorded a solo home run. Abby Schreiner walked and Olivia Haag was hit by a pitch. Bailey Throckmorton pitched a complete game for the Warriors and struck out three.
In game two of the afternoon, Southern Wesleyan had 12 hits with four players each having two hits. Talissa Cannady and Amberly Way each homered in the game. Madison Truett had a double and Way picked up a triple. Cannady led the team with four RBIs. Emily Collins started game two in the circle and pitched 5.1 innings while striking out five batters. Jaelyn Montfort and Olivia Haag each came in to pitch in relief. Haag closed out the game in the circle and struck out one batter.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Tusculum 3, Southern Wesleyan 1
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 11, Tusculum 10
Records: Southern Wesleyan (9-1) Tusculum (13-1)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan attacked early in the game as Amberly Way sent a rocket over the center field wall for her sixth home run of the 2025 season to give the Warriors a 1-0 run lead.
The Pioneers threatened, but a double play by Maddie Crouch and Avery Mercer along with some lights-out pitching by Bailey Throckmorton allowed the Warriors to keep Tusculum off the board until the top of the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, a double by Nicholson brought two runs in to score to give the Pioneers a 2-1 run advantage. The Pioneers were able to bring one more run in to score to win the game in a 3-1 final.
Game Two
Tusculum went on the offensive early in game two as a couple errors by the Warriors and a series of singles off the bats of the Pioneers allowed them to bring three runs in to score in the top of the first inning.
Southern Wesleyan countered in the bottom of the first inning. Maddie Crouch led off by reaching first on a walk. Madison Truett drilled the ball to left field past the diving Pioneers' left fielder for a stand up double that brought Crouch in to score. With Truett in scoring position, Amberly Way hit the ball down the left field line. The ball bounced in front of the left fielder and then rolled into the corner as Way raced around the bases for a triple that allowed Truett to come in to score for the Warriors to cut the Pioneers' lead down to one. With one out, Rebecca Lamb and Olivia Haag walked to load up the bases and bring Talissa Cannady up to bat. Cannady drilled the ball up the middle for a single that brought both Way and Lamb in to score to give the Warriors a 4-3 run advantage.
The Warriors extended on their lead in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Abby Schreiner walked. Talissa Cannady came up to the plate and sent the ball over the center field wall for a two-run home run to give the Warriors a 6-3 run lead. Southern Wesleyan was not done as Camille Lui and Maddie Crouch each singled to put two more runners on the bases. Madison Truett knocked the ball over the second baseman's head for a single that allowed Lui to come in to score.
The Pioneers countered as they brought two more runs in to score in the top of the fourth inning to cut into the Warriors' lead.
Southern Wesleyan regained a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Avery Mercer led off the inning by hitting a single to left field. Ayden Leaphart came in to pinch run for Mercer and advanced to second base as Abby Schreiner walked. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance a base. With two in scoring position, Olivia Haag flew out to the Pioneers' center fielder who dove to catch the ball. However, Leaphart was able to come in to score on the sacrifice fly to extend the Warriors lead to three runs.
Tusculum was not done as they rallied back and brought five runs in to score in the top of the sixth inning to take a 10-8 run lead.
The Warriors countered in the bottom of the sixth inning as they went on the offensive once again. Avery Mercer led off the inning by hitting a single down the right field line. Rebecca Lamb walked to put two runners on and bring Abby Schreiner up to bat. However, Schreiner hit into a fielder's choice that took Mercer off the bases. Olivia Haag sent the ball up the middle for a single that allowed Lamb to come in to score and put the Warriors back within one run of the Pioneers. A fly out by Talissa Cannady allowed Schreiner to advance to third base. With two outs, Josie Shoemaker singled to left field to bring Schreiner in to score and tie the game up at ten runs apiece.
Olivia Haag came in to pitch in the top of the seventh inning and struck out the first batter she faced before forcing the next two to ground out to prevent the Pioneers from regaining the lead.
The Warriors struck in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Amberly Way came up to the plate and sent the second pitch she saw over the left field wall for a home run to give the Warriors an 11-10 run victory over Tusculum.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Mars Hill, NC on February 26 as they take on the Mars Hill Lions in a double header beginning at 1pm. They will remain on the road on March 1 as they travel to Jefferson City, TN to take on the Carson-Newman Eagles. The Warriors will host the Georgia College Bobcats on March 5 in a doubleheader beginning at 2pm.
