Young Harris, GA – Southern Wesleyan split their Conference Carolinas opener against the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Wednesday afternoon. The Warriors claimed game one 5-3 before falling in game two in a 7-3 final.
The Warriors totaled six hits in game one. Talissa Cannady led the team with two hits and three RBIs. Both Cannady and Amberly Way homered. Southern Wesleyan walked three times and stole five bases with Ayden Leaphart leading the team with two stolen bases in the game. Olivia Haag pitched a complete game and struck out five batters.
Southern Wesleyan collected seven hits in game two with both Madison Truett and Amberly Way having two hits. Maddie Crouch had the lone RBI of the game for the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan walked three times and Talissa Cannady had the lone stolen base of the game. Chloe Smith started the second game in the circle and pitched one inning while striking out one. Bailey Throckmorton and Jaelyn Montfort each came in to pitch in relief.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 5, Young Harris 3
Game Two Final: Young Harris 7, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (14-4 / CC 1-1) Young Harris (10-12 / CC 2-2)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan attacked the plate in the top of the first inning as Amberly Way came up to bat with two outs and sent the ball over the left field wall for a solo home run.
The Warriors went on the offensive again in the top of the second inning. Rebecca Lamb led off by reaching first on a walk. Ayden Leaphart came in to pinch run for Lamb and proceeded to steal both second and third base to get into scoring position. Abby Schreiner walked to put runners at the corners. Megan Ware, who came in to pinch run for Schreiner, stole second base to put both runners in scoring position with no one out. However, Olivia Haag ground out on the next play to take Ware off the bases. With two outs, Talissa Cannady hit a single to right field to bring Leaphart in to score and extend the Warriors lead to 2-0.
Young Harris answered in the bottom of the second inning as a double by Fielden allowed Jaruszewski to cross home plate.
Olivia Haag kicked off the top of the fifth inning by reaching first after singling to the Mountain Lions' short stop. Talissa Cannady came up to the plate and sent the wall over the left field wall for a two run blast to give Southern Wesleyan a 4-1 run lead over Young Harris.
The Mountain Lions came back to within one run of Southern Wesleyan in the bottom of the fifth inning as singles by Jaruszewski and Pennington allowed two runs to come in to score.
Southern Wesleyan was not done as they brought in their final run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Olivia Haag was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second base on a ground out by Talissa Cannady. Megan Ware hit a single to left field to bring Haag in to score and give the Warriors a 5-3 run victory.
Game Two
Young Harris struck in the bottom of the second inning of game two as several walks and a single by Brown allowed five runs to come in to score.
The Warriors countered in the top of the third inning. Josie Shoemaker led off by reaching first on a walk and then advanced to second as Maddie Crouch laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Madison Truett walked to put two runners on. However, Amberly Way hit into a fielder's choice on the next at bat to take Shoemaker off the bases. Avery Mercer was hit by a pitch to load up the bases for Abby Schreiner. Schreiner put the ball in play, but an error by the short stop allowed both Truett and Way to come in to score to put the Warriors behind the Mountain Lions 5-2.
Southern Wesleyan came to within two runs of Young Harris in the top of the fourth inning. Talissa Cannady led off the inning with a walk and then stole second base. Josie Shoemaker flew out to right field to allow Cannady to advance to third. With Cannady just feet from home, Maddie Crouch hit a single to short stop to bring Cannady in to score.
Young Harris went on to score in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to take game two in a 7-3 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on March 15 as they travel to Franklin Springs, GA to take on the Emmanuel Lions. They will then travel to Due West, SC to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet in a double header beginning at 1pm. The Warriors will welcome the Emmanuel Lions to Central, SC on March 22.
