Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan picked up the series victory over the Erskine Flying Fleet on Saturday afternoon as they took game three in a 21-9 final score.
The Warriors picked up 22 hits in the final game of the series. Josh Long and Jack Dennison each went 3-for-4 at the plate. Dennison and Cam Mitchem homered. Niko Laing, Griffin Pickhardt and Long all doubled in the victory. Long, Pickhardt and Laing each picked up three RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked nine times and Dennison had a stolen base.
Lukas Arvantides started the final game on the mound and pitched five innings while striking out seven batters. Logan Brazell, Adrian Abad and Gehrig Schreiber came in to pitch in relief. Brazell struck out two and Schreiber struck out one.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 21, Erskine 9
Records: Southern Wesleyan (7-20 / CC 6-9) Erskine (14-13 / CC 4-8)
How It Happened
The Warriors stormed out of the gate in the bottom of the first inning. Jack Dennison led off the inning by hitting a single to center field and then advanced to second base as Marty Grisso laid down a bunt single. A sacrifice bunt by Gage Shaver allowed both runners to advance. With two on, Cam Mitchem was hit by a pitch to load up the bases for Niko Laing. Laing doubled to right field to bring two runs in to score. Griffin Pickhardt followed by hitting a double to left field to allow both Mitchem and Laing to cross home plate. With one out and one on, Josh Long singled to right center field to bring Pickhardt in to score and give Southern Wesleyan a 5-0 run lead.
Erskine fought back as singles by Josean Sanch and Dylan Wanat allowed the Flying Fleet to bring two runs in to score.
Southern Wesleyan regained their five run advantage in the bottom of the third inning. Josh Long hit the ball down the left field line for a double and then advanced to third base as Zach Kim laid down a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Jack Dennison sent the ball down the right field line and over the fence for a two-run home run.
The Warriors continued to pressure the Flying Fleet in the bottom of the fourth inning. Gage Shaver led off the inning by reaching on a single to left field and then advancing to third on a single by Cam Mitchem. Niko Laing singled on a bunt to bring Shaver in to score and allow Mitchem to advance to second. A walk to Griffin Pickhardt loaded up the bases for Josh Long. Long was hit by the first pitch he saw to bring Mitchem across home plate. Zach Kim singled to left field to bring Laing home and extend the Warriors lead to 10-2. An error by the Flying Fleet's second baseman allowed Nolan Evatt to reach first and allowed Pickhardt to come in to score. As Erskine attempted to get the ball back in on the error, Evatt advanced to second and Long came in to score. Jack Dennison hit a single to right center field to allow Kim to come in to score. A walk to Marty Grisso loaded up the bases for Gage Shaver. Shaver came up for his second at bat of the inning and hit a single through the right side to bring both Evatt and Dennison in to score. With two out and two on, Niko Laing walked to load up the bases once again. Griffin Pickhardt walked to bring in the Warriors eighth run of the game. With one out, Josh Long hit into a fielder's choice, but then an error by the pitcher allowed both Shaver and Laing to come in to score. Nolan Evatt came up for his second at bat of the inning and hit a single through the left side to bring Pickhardt in to score. A balk allowed Long to come in to score to give the Warriors a 20-2 run lead.
In the top of the fifth inning, Southern Wesleyan extended on their lead once again. On the second pitch he saw, Cam Mitchem hit the ball down the left field line and over the fence for a solo home run.
Erskine challenged as they brought runs in to score in the top of the sixth, eighth and ninth innings. However, the Warriors went on to claim a 21-9 run victory over the Flying Fleet.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host the Young Harris Mountain Lions on March 19 at 5pm. They will then travel to Florence, SC on March 21-22 to take on the Franics Marion Patriots. The Warriors will remain on the road on March 26 as they travel to Young Harris, GA to take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions.
