Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the final two games of the series against the Emmanuel Lions in 7-3 and 23-3 final scores.
The Warriors picked up five hits in the first game of the afternoon with Nolan Evatt leading the team with two hits. Both Evatt and Luke Taylor doubled in the game. Southern Wesleyan walked four times and Marty Grisso was hit by a pitch. Nick Gonsalves started game one on the mound and pitched 1.2 innings. Logan Brazell came in and pitched the remaining 5.1 innings and struck out four batters.
Southern Wesleyan collected 14 hits in the final game of the series. Marty Grisso went 3-for-3 at the plate including hitting a two-run home run. Jonathan Overton was the other Warrior with a multi-base hit as he doubled. Grisso led the team with three RBIs. The Warriors walked three times in the game and turned one double play. Garrett Swink started the game on the mound and pitched 2.1 innings. Both Jaylen Morgan and Aidan Cunningham had two strikeouts during the game.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Emmanuel 7, Southern Wesleyan 3
Game Two Final: Emmaneul 23, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (9-38 / CC 8-19) Emmanuel (24-22 / 13-14)
How It Happened
Game One
The Lions attacked the plate early as they brought six runs in to score in the top of the second inning.
Southern Wesleyan began to chip away at Emmanuel's lead in the fourth inning. Marty Grisso was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. With one out, Luke Taylor sent the ball to deep left field for a double. Grisso beat out the throw to score the first run of the game for the Warriors.
Emmanuel was not done as they brought another run in to score in the fifth.
The Warriors challenged in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jarrett Whitley led off by hitting a single to left field. With Niko Laing pinch hitting for Caide Linker, Laing hit a single to left field to allow Whitley to advance to second base. An error by the Lions' third baseman off the batted ball by Samuel Simonds loaded up the bases for Jonathan Overton. Overton walked to bring Whitley in to score. With one out, Josh Long hit into a fielder's choice to bring Laing in to score. However, the Warriors were not able to bring in another run and so fell to the Lions in a 7-3 final score.
Game Two
Emmanuel brought the first run in to score in the top of the first as a single by Beall allowed Cruz to cross home plate.
The Warriors countered in the bottom of the inning. Nolan Evatt led off by hitting a single into shallow left field. Evatt advanced to third base as Josh Long hit a single into right field. With runners on the corners, Marty Grisso sent the ball up the middle for a single that allowed Evatt to come in to score to tie the game up 1-1.
The Lions would not back down as they challenged the Warriors pitching in the third inning and brought fifteen runs in to score.
Southern Wesleyan brought a couple runs in to score in the bottom of the inning. Nolan Evatt led off by hitting a single into right field. With one out, Marty Grisso came up to bat and sent the ball down the left field line and over the fence for a two-run home run.
Emmanuel went on to bring more runs in during the sixth and seventh inning to take the game in a 23-3 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Gaffney, SC on April 23 to take on the Limestone Saints at 5pm. They will wrap up the regular season on April 25-26 as they travel over to Tigerville, SC to take on the North Greenville Trailblazers.
