Jefferson City, TN – Southern Wesleyan dropped both games in the double header against Carson-Newman on Saturday afternoon in 11-2 and 18-17 final scores.
The Warriors picked up three hits in game one of the day. Avery Mercer led the team with two RBIs that came off of her two-run home run. Maddie Crouch walked and Rebecca Lamb was hit by a pitch. Emily Collins started game one and struck out six batters over three innings. Olivia Haag came in to pitch in relief and struck out two in the final inning.
Southern Wesleyan picked up 17 hits in game two. Avery Mercer led the team by going 4-for-5 at the plate. Behind her, Amberly Way picked up three hits. Way and Mercer each had two home runs, while Talissa Cannady had one home run in the game. Way, Mercer and Abby Schreiner each doubled. Way led the team with six RBIs while Mercer followed her with four. The Warriors walked five times and both Maddie Crouch and Riley Brown had stolen bases. Bailey Throckmorton started in the circle and pitched 2.2 innings while striking out two batters. Chloe Smith, Olivia Haag and Amberly Way each pitched in relief. Haag also struck out two batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Carson-Newman 11, Southern Wesleyan 2
Game Two Final: Carson-Newman 18, Southern Wesleyan 17
Records: Southern Wesleyan (11-3) Carson-Newman (13-7)
How It Happened
Game One
The Warriors plated their lone two runs in the top of the first inning. Maddie Crouch led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to second on a passed ball. With two outs and Crouch at second base, Avery Mercer came up to bat and sent the ball over the left center field fence to give the Warriors a 2-0 run advantage.
However, the Eagles tied the game up in the bottom of the first inning off a home run by Bailey. Carson-Newman would not relent as they scored again in the second and third innings to win game one in an 11-2 final score.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan were the first to bring a run in to score in the second game of the day. Maddie Crouch led off with a walk and then stole second base. A wild pitch allowed Crouch to advance to third. With two outs and Crouch at third, Avery Mercer hit a single to center field to bring Crouch in to score.
The Eagles answered in the bottom of the second inning as a sacrifice fly out and an error by the Warriors allowed two runs to come in to score.
Carson-Newman's lead was short lived as the Warriors went on the offensive again in the top of the third inning. Riley Brown laid down a bunt single and then advanced to second on a bunt single by Maddie Crouch. Riley Brown stole third and Crouch advanced to second base on the throw. With one out and both runners in scoring position, Amberly Way doubled to left center field to allow both Brown and Crouch to score to give the Warriors back the lead. Avery Mercer came up to the plate and sent the ball over the left field wall for a two run shot to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 5-2.
However, in the bottom of the third inning, a home run by Robbins and a walked in run allowed Carson-Newman to tie the game up.
The Warriors attacked again in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Maddie Crouch walked and then advanced to second as Madison Truett singled to left field. Amberly Way came up to bat and drilled the ball over the left field fence for a three-run home run to put the Warriors back on top.
The Eagles came back to within one run of Southern Wesleyan in the bottom of the fourth inning off a two-run home run by Bailey. They went on to bring three more runs in to score in the bottom of the fifth inning to allow them to take a 10-8 run lead over the Warriors.
Southern Wesleyan was not done as they regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Amberly Way and Avery Mercer hit back-to-back home runs to tie the game up at ten runs apiece. Rebecca Lamb walked. McKenzie Babb came in to pinch run for Lamb and advanced to second as Olivia Haag hit a single through the left side. With two on base, Talissa Cannady came up to bat and sent the ball over the left center field wall for a three-run home run to give the Warriors a 13-10 run lead over the Eagles.
However, Carson-Newman countered as they brought seven runs in to score in the bottom of the sixth inning to allow them to take a 17-13 run lead.
The Warriors battled back in the top of the seventh inning. Maddie Crouch led off by hitting a single to left center field. Crouch advanced to second as Madison Truett singled to center field. With one out, Avery Mercer ground out to short stop, but both Crouch and Truett were able to advance. Rebecca Lamb singled to bring Crouch in to score and advance Truett to third. With runners on the corners, Abby Schreiner hit a double to bring both Truett and Lui, who was pinch runner for Lamb, in to score. Sarah Woody came in to pinch run for Schreiner. Olivia Haag put the ball into play, but an error by the left fielder allowed her to advance all the way to third. Woody came in to score on the error to allow Southern Wesleyan to tie the game back up at seventeen.
In extra innings, a passed ball allowed Carson-Newman to win the game in an 18-17 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Central, SC on March 5 as they host the Georgia College Bobcats in a double header beginning at 2pm. They will remain at home on March 10 as they host the Catawba Indians. Southern Wesleyan will open up Conference Carolinas action on March 12 as they travel to Young Harris, GA to take on the Mountain Lions of Young Harris.
