Duncan, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Converse Valkyries 9-5 to advance to the double elimination portion of the Conference Carolinas tournament. In their first round of that portion of the tournament, the Warriors fell to the Barton Bulldogs in a 7-6 final.
The Warriors picked up nine hits in their first game of the afternoon. Maddie Crouch, Rebecca Lamb and Chloe Smith each had two hits. Smith hit her first collegiate home run, and Crouch had a double. Lamb and Smith led the team with three RBIs apiece. Southern Wesleyan walked eight times and Riley Brown stole a base. Emily Collins started the game in the circle and pitched three innings while striking out one batter. Olivia Haag closed the game out and struck out three to claim her ninth win of the season.
Southern Wesleyan had six hits in their second game of the day. Amberly Way and Avery Mercer each had two hits. Mercer had the lone extra base hit of the game as she hit a double. Mercer and Talissa Cannady each had two of the five RBIs. The other RBI of the game came off the bat of Maddie Crouch. The Warriors walked six times and Crouch stole a base. Chloe Smith pitched a complete game in the circle and struck out one batter.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 9, Converse 5
Game Two Final: Barton 7, Southern Wesleyan 6
Record: Southern Wesleyan (30-14) Converse (19-30) Barton (26-21)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan vs Converse
Converse struck first as a double by Watson brought Leonard in to score in the top of the first. However, Emily Collins forced the next two batters to fly or pop out to prevent the Valkyries from extending on their lead.
Southern Wesleyan answered in the bottom of the inning. Maddie Crouch led off the inning by drilling the ball to deep left field for a double. With two outs and Crouch in scoring position, Rebecca Lamb knocked a the ball into left field for a single that allowed Crouch to come in to score and tie the game up.
The Valkyries would not back down as a double off the bat of Watson allowed Swartzel to come in to score to put Converse back on top in the top of the third. Gentile laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring in Converse's third run of the afternoon.
The Warriors were not discouraged as they took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Amberly Way led off by hitting a single into left field. Way advanced to second as Avery Mercer ground out to the pitcher. A wild pitch allowed Way to advance to third base. Rebecca Lamb followed with a walk. With runners on the corners and one out, Chloe Smith stepped up to the plate and sent the ball over the left center field fence for a three run home run to put Southern Wesleyan on top 4-3.
Converse regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning as they brought two runs in to score to take a 5-4 run lead over the Warriors.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Warriors went on the attack once again. Walks to Reagan Fulcher, Maddie Crouch and Amberly Way loaded up the bases for Avery Mercer. Mercer hit into a fielder's choice that took Crouch off the bases. Megan Ware came in to pinch run for Fulcher as Rebecca Lamb stepped up to the plate. Lamb sent the ball into left field for a single that allowed both Ware and Way to come in to score. Chloe Smith then hit a single to right field to load up the bases once again for Madison Truett. Truett walked to allow Mercer to come in to score. With two outs and the bases loaded, Talissa Cannady hit a single into left center field to bring both Smith and Lamb in to score to win the game in a 9-5 final.
Southern Wesleyan vs Barton
Barton struck in the bottom of the first inning as a single off the bat of Massey allowed Cyzick to come into score.
The Warriors went on the attack in the fourth inning. Maddie Crouch led off by reaching on a walk and then stole second to get into scoring position. Amberly Way singled to allow Crouch to advance to third base. With runners on the corners, Avery Mercer knocked a single into left field to bring Crouch in to score and tie the game up.
The Bulldogs fought back in the fourth inning as they brought three more runs in to score to regain the lead.
Southern Wesleyan challenged once again in the fifth inning. Talissa Cannady led off the inning by reaching on a walk. With two outs, Amberly Way singled to allow Cannady to advance to third base. Avery Mercer sent the ball down the left field line for a double to bring Cannady in to score and cut the Bulldogs lead in half.
However, a home run to center field off the bat of Massey allowed Barton to extend their lead to 6-2.
The Warriors countered in the top of the sixth inning. Back-to-back walks to Chloe Smith and Abby Schreiner put two runners on and brought Olivia Haag up to bat. Haag hit a single into shallow left center field to load up the bases. Talissa Cannady hit a single to left field to bring both Smith and Schreiner in to score. Cannady advanced to second as the Bulldogs attempted to prevent Haag from reaching third base. With one out, Maddie Crouch reached on an error by the second baseman. Both Haag and Cannady were able to come in to score on the play to tie the game up at six runs apiece.
The Bulldogs would not go down easily as a single by Olson allowed Barton to claim a 7-6 walk-off victory in the seventh inning.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will next take on the Francis Marion Patriots on April 26 at 2:30 pm.
