Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan swept past the North Greenville Trailblazers on Friday afternoon. After claiming game one 10-2, the Warriors took game two in walk-off fashion off a two run home run by Maddie Crouch in a 9-7 final score.
The Warriors totaled 10 hits in game one with Avery Mercer leading the team with two hits, both doubles. Maddie Crouch hit her second triple of the season. Mercer went on to have three of the 10 RBIs. Both Abby Schreiner and Crouch had two RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked seven times, and both Talissa Cannady and Amberly Way stole bases. Emily Collins pitched a complete game and only allowed two hits while striking out two batters.
Southern Wesleyan recorded 14 hits in game two. Both Madison Truett and Rebecca Lamb went 3-for-4 at the plate. Talissa Cannady and Maddie Crouch each homered in the game, and Amberly Way and Lamb each doubled twice. Lamb led the team with three RBIs while Maddie Crouch followed with two. Way had the lone walk of the game. Chloe Smith started game two and pitched 6.2 innings. Bailey Throckmorton pitched the final .1 innings and had the lone strikeout of the game.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 10, North Greenville 2
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 9, North Greenville 7
Records: Southern Wesleyan (20-8 / CC 7-3) North Greenville (21-15 / CC 7-7)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan charged out of the gates in the bottom of the first inning. Walks to Talissa Cannady, Madison Truett and Amberly Way loaded up the bases quickly for the Warriors to force the Trailblazers to go to the bullpen early in the game. With the new pitcher in the circle for North Greenville, Avery Mercer hit the ball to deep right center field for a double that cleared the bases. With one out, an error by the Trailblazers' shortstop allowed Abby Schreiner to reach first. Chloe Smith followed by hitting a single to left field to bring Mercer in to score the fourth run of the game. With two outs, Riley Brown singled up the middle to bring Schreiner across home plate to give the Warriors an early 5-0 run lead.
The Warriors struck again in the third inning. With two outs, Talissa Cannady hit a single up the middle and then stole second base. Madison Truett hit a single through the left side of the infield to bring Cannady in to score and extend the Warriors lead to 6-0.
North Greenville answered in the fourth inning as a two-run home run by Stone put the Trailblazers back within four runs of Southern Wesleyan.
However, Southern Wesleyan countered in the bottom of the fourth as they brought two runs in of their own. Avery Mercer led off the inning by hitting a double down the left field line. A ground out by Rebecca Lamb allowed Mercer to advance to third base. With two outs, Chloe Smith was hit by a pitch to put two runners on and bring Maddie Crouch up to bat. Crouch battled back and hit the ball deep to right center for a bases clearing triple to regain the Warriors six run advantage.
The Warriors would not back down as they attacked again in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Madison Truett walked. Avery Mercer walked and then Rebecca Lamb hit a single through the left side to load up the bases for Abby Schreiner. Schreiner hit a single to center field to bring both Truett and Roper, who was pinch running for Mercer, in to score and give the Warriors a 10-2 run victory over the Trailblazers.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan struck quickly in game two of the afternoon. With one out, Madison Truett hit a single to left field. Amberly Way walked to allow Truett to advance to second. However, Avery Mercer hit into a fielder's choice that took Way off the base pads shortly afterwards. With runners on the corners, Rebecca Lamb hit a single to right field to bring Truett in to score the first run of the game.
The Warriors extended on their lead in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Madison Truett hit the ball toward the Trailblazers shortstop. She just beat out the throw to gain the single. Truett came in to score as Amberly Way hit a double to right field. With two outs and Way on second base, Rebecca Lamb doubled to bring Way in to score and extend the Warriors lead to 3-0.
North Greenville brought two runs in to score in the fourth inning as a double by Metcalf allowed both Stone and Green to cross home plate.
The Warriors went on the attack again in the fifth inning. Madison Truett led off by hitting a single to left field. With one out, Avery Mercer hit a single to left center field to allow Truett to advance to second. Rebecca Lamb hit a double to deep left field to bring Truett in to score and put Mercer on third base. With both Chalee Roper and Ayden Leaphart pinch running for Mercer and Lamb, Abby Schreiner came up to the plate. Schreiner hit it over the short stop's head and into left field for a single that brought Roper in to score and allowed Leaphart to advance to third. A wild pitch brought Leaphart across home plate to extend the Warriors lead to 6-2.
Another double off the bat of Metcalf allowed Badillo to come in to score the third run of the game for North Greenville.
Talissa Cannady hit a home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Warriors back their four run lead.
North Greenville went on the attack in the top of the seventh inning as a series of hits and misplays by the Warriors fielders allowed them to bring four runs in to score to tie the game up 7-7.
The Warriors would not back down in the bottom of the inning as, with two outs, Chloe Smith hit a single just past the first baseman. Maddie Crouch came up to the plate, and, after several fouled off balls, sent the ball over the left center field for a walk-off two-run home run to give the Warriors a 9-7 run victory over the Trailblazers.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host the King Tornado on March 29 in a doubleheader beginning at 2pm. They will then host the Shorter Hawks on April 1. Southern Wesleyan will travel to Murfreesboro, NC on April 4 to take on the Chowan Hawks before then traveling to Wilson, NC on April 5 to face the Barton Bulldogs.
