Mars Hill, NC – Southern Wesleyan swept the Mars Hill Lions on Wednesday afternoon.  They took game one 8-3, before then run-ruling the Lions in a 12-4 final score in game two.

The Warriors had 12 hits in game one.  Avery Mercer and Olivia Haag each homered, and Maddie Crouch, Madison Truett and Talissa Cannady all doubled.  Haag led the team with three of the eight RBIs.  Southern Wesleyan walked twice and stole five bases.  Crouch and Cannady picked up two steals apiece while Haag had one steal in the game.  Olivia Haag pitched a compete game and struck out seven batters to pick up her fifth win of the season.

In game two of the afternoon, Southern Wesleyan totaled 20 hits.  Madison Truett led the team by going four for four at the plate.  Behind her, Amberly Way, Avery Mercer and Olivia Haag each had three hits.  Mercer homered twice and Abby Schreiner also had a home run.  Truett, Mercer and Schreiner all doubled.  Mercer picked up five RBIs with Way right behind her with four.  The Warriors walked twice and Haag stole two bases.  Chloe Smith started game two in the circle and pitched the complete game while striking out eight batters to claim her second win of the season.

Game Vitals

Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 8, Mars Hill 3

Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 12, Mars Hill 4

Records: Southern Wesleyan (11-1) Mars Hill (7-9)

How It Happened

Game One

The Lions went on the offensive early on as, with two runners on base, Maia Sholter hit the ball out of the stadium for a three-run blast in the bottom of the first inning.

Southern Wesleyan answered in the top of the second inning.  An error allowed Avery Mercer to reach first base.  Mercer advanced to second on a single to left field by Rebecca Lamb.  With two on, Abby Schreiner singled down the left field line to bring Mercer in to score.  However, both Lamb and Schreiner were able to advance a base on the throw back into the infield.  Olivia Haag came up to the plate and sent the ball out of the park for a three run blast to allow the Warriors to take the lead.  Southern Wesleyan was not done, as Maddie Crouch walked and then stole second base.  With two outs and Crouch at second, Madison Truett hit a double down the left field line to bring Crouch in to score and give the Warriors a 5-3 run advantage.

In the top of the third inning, the Warriors brought two more runs in to score.  Avery Mercer hit her first home run of the 2025 season to bring in the first run of the inning.  With two outs, Olivia Haag reached first on an error by the Lions' third baseman.  Haag then stole second base to get into scoring position.  Talissa Cannady came up to bat and hit a single to center field to bring Haag in to score.

Mars Hill was able to keep Southern Wesleyan from extending on their lead until the top of the sixth inning.  Talissa Cannady led off the inning by hitting a double to left field.  With one out, Maddie Crouch laid down a bunt single to allow Cannady to advance to third base.  Crouch then stole second and then Madison Truett was hit by a pitch to load up the bases for Amberly Way.  Way walked to bring Cannady in to score to give the Warriors an 8-3 run victory in game one.

Game Two

Southern Wesleyan got on the board early in game two as they brought two runs in to score in the top of the first inning.  With one out, Madison Truett hit the ball down the left field line for a double.  Amberly Way singled to left to allow Truett to advance to third.  However, an error on the relay back into the plate brought Truett in to score.  Avery Mercer hit a double up the middle to bring Way in to score to give the Warriors a 2-0 run advantage.

Mars Hill was able to get on the board in the bottom of the third inning as Hanson hit a solo home run to center field.

However, the Warriors brought five more runs in to score in the top of the fourth inning.  Josie Shoemaker led off with a single and then advanced to second as Maddie Crouch ground out to the third baseman.  With one out, Madison Truett hit a single to left field to bring Shoemaker in to score.  A fielding error allowed Truett to advance to second base.  Amberly Way singled to left center to bring Truett in to score.  With one out and one on, Avery Mercer hit the ball to deep center field for a two-run home run.  Abby Schreiner followed with a home run of her own to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 7-1.

Southern Wesleyan was not done as they attacked the plate again in the top of the fifth.  Maddie Crouch led off by hitting a single up the middle.  Madison Truett followed with a single of her own, but both Crouch and Truett were able to advance another base on the throw.  With both runners in scoring position, Amberly Way hit the ball to center field for a single that allowed both Crouch and Truett to come in to score and give the Warriors an eight run lead over Mars Hill.  Avery Mercer came up to bat and drilled the ball over the center field wall for the second time in the game.  With the bases empty and one out, Olivia Haag hit a single up the middle and then advanced to second as Reagan Fulcher laid down a single.  Megan Ware came in to pinch hit and hit a single to left field to bring Haag in to score.

The Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it was not enough as Southern Wesleyan claimed game two in a 12-4 final to win the series.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will travel to Jefferson City, TN on March 1 to take on the Carson-Newman Eagles in a doubleheader beginning at 2pm.  They will return to Central, SC on March 5 as they host the Georgia College Bobcats at 2pm.  The Warriors will host the Catawba Indians on March 10 before traveling to Young Harris, GA on March 12 to open up Conference Carolinas action against the Young Harris Mountain Lions.