Rome, GA – Southern Wesleyan claimed the Southwest Division Title in Conference Carolinas on Wednesday afternoon after they swept the Shorter Hawks in 4-3 and 7-2 final scores.

The Warriors totaled five hits in the first game of the afternoon.  Maddie Crouch led the team with two hits.  Avery Mercer hit a home run.  A bases clearing double by Rebecca Lamb allowed her to pick up three of the four RBIs.  Southern Wesleyan walked three times and Crouch stole a base.  Emily Collins pitched a complete game and struck out six batters to pick up her tenth win of the season.

Southern Wesleyan recorded 12 hits in game two.  Reagan Fulcher led the team by going 3-for-4 at the plate including picking up her first collegiate home run.  She was followed by Rebecca Lamb who had two hits in the game including a home run.  Amberly Way, Lamb, Chloe Smith and Abby Schreiner each doubled.  Lamb went on to lead the team with two RBIs.  The Warriors walked three times and Chalee Roper had a stolen base.  Chloe Smith started game two in the circle and pitched 6.1 innings while striking out two batters.

Game Vitals

Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 4, Shorter 3

Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 7, Shorter 2

Records: Southern Wesleyan (29-14) Shorter (13-30)

How It Happened

Game One

In the third inning, the Warriors took the first run of the game as Avery Mercer sent the ball over the left field fence for a solo home run.

However, Shorter answered in the bottom of the inning off a single by Gattis to tie the game up 1-1.

Southern Wesleyan regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning.  With two outs, Maddie Crouch hit a single up the middle and then stole second base.  Amberly Way walked and then Avery Mercer was hit by a pitch to load up the bases for Rebecca Lamb.  Lamb drilled the ball down the left field line for a bases clearing double to give the Warriors a 4-1 run advantage.

The Hawks cut into the Warriors lead in the bottom of the inning as Gattis hit another single to bring Mask in to score.  They came to within one run of the Warriors later in the inning as a sacrifice fly by Mitchell allowed Stevens to come in to score.

Southern Wesleyan was able to prevent Shorter from cutting any further into their lead as they claimed game one in a 4-3 final.

Game Two

The Warriors brought their first run of the game in to score in the top of the second inning.  Chloe Smith kicked off the inning by hitting a double down the right field line.  Smith came in to score as Abby Schreiner then hit a double down the left field line.  With one out, Talissa Cannady walked.  Reagan Fulcher hit a single into center field to load up the bases for Maddie Crouch.  Crouch hit into a fielder's choice, however an error by the Hawks catcher allowed Schreiner to come in to score.

In the third inning, Rebecca Lamb sent the ball over the left center field wall for a solo home run to extend the Warriors lead to 3-0.

Shorter countered in the bottom of the inning as singles by Gattis and Mitchell allowed two runs to come across home plate.

However, the Warriors regained a two run advantage as Reagan Fulcher drilled the ball over the left field fence for her first collegiate home run.

Southern Wesleyan was not done as they brought a couple more runs in to score in the sixth inning.  Reagan Fulcher reached first on an error by the Hawks third baseman.  Chalee Roper came in to pinch run for Fulcher and then stole second base.  With one out, Amberly Way doubled to left center field to bring Roper in to score.  Way came in to score as Rebecca Lamb hit a double to right center field.

The Warriors brought one more run in to score in the seventh inning.  Megan Ware came up to the plate and hit a single through the left side of the field and then advanced to second as Josie Shoemaker hit a single to left field.  With two on and one out, Reagan Fulcher singled to load up the bases for Maddie Crouch.  Crouch lined out to the left field, but Ware was able to come in to score on the play to give the Warriors a 7-2 run victory over the Hawks.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will wait for seeding to be determined for the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament.  The Tournament will take place April 24-27 at Tyger River Sports Complex in Spartanburg, SC.