Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan swept the Erskine Flying Fleet on Wednesday afternoon. After run-ruling Erskine in the first game of the afternoon in an 8-0 final, the Warriors walked-off game two in a 4-3 final.
The Warriors totaled nine hits in game one of the afternoon. Avery Mercer led the team at the plate as she went 3-for-3. Amberly Way and Chloe Smith each had two hits in the game. Mercer, Rebecca Lamb and Smith all doubled. Smith went on to lead the team with three RBIs. Southern Wesleyan walked twice and Josie Shoemaker stole a base. Emily Collins started game one in the circle and pitched four innings while striking out two batters.
Southern Wesleyan totaled eight hits in game two with Avery Mercer, Abby Schreiner and Chloe Smith each producing two hits. Mercer, Schreiner and Smith each doubled in the game. The Warriors walked six times. Chloe Smith pitched a complete game in the circle and struck out five batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 8, Erskine 0
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 4, Erskine 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (26-12 / CC 13-7) Erskine (7-29 / CC 3-15)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan went on the attack early in the game. Maddie Crouch was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second as Amberly Way hit a single up the middle. With two on, Avery Mercer hit a single up the middle to bring Crouch in to score. Rebecca Lamb grounded out to the pitcher to allow both runners to advance a base. Cox hit Abby Schreiner to load up the bases for Chloe Smith. Smith drilled the ball to right center field for a double that allowed Way and Mercer to come in to score and extend the Warriors lead to 3-0. Talissa Cannady followed with a walk that loaded up the bases for Madison Truett. Truett hit into a fielder's choice, but Schreiner was able to come in to score on the play.
The Warriors would not relent their attacks at the plate. With two outs, Avery Mercer hit a single to center field. An error by the center fielder allowed Mercer to advance to second base. Rebecca Lamb followed by hitting a double off the left center field wall to bring Mercer in to score.
Southern Wesleyan continued their pressure against the Flying Fleet in the third inning. Chloe Smith led off the inning by reaching on an error and then advancing to second on a passed ball. A ground out by Talissa Cannady allowed Smith to advance to third base. Madison Truett then ground out to the short stop to bring Smith in to score.
In the fourth inning, the Warriors went on the offensive again. Amberly Way walked and then Avery Mercer hit a double to left field to allow Way to advance to third. With two on and no outs, Rebecca Lamb hit a sacrifice fly out to right center field to bring Way in to score. The Warriors were not done as Chloe Smith stepped up to the plate and sent the fourth pitch she saw into center field for a single that allowed Mercer to come in to score to give the Warriors an 8-0 run victory.
Game Two
Erskine took the first runs of game two as singles by Kennedy Crouch and Brooke Patterson allowed two runs to come in and score.
The Warriors began to chip away at Erskine's lead in the second inning. Abby Schreiner led off the inning with a walk. With Chalee Roper pinch running for Schreiner, Chloe Smith hit a double to right center field to allow Roper to advance to third. Talissa Cannady then walked to load up the bases. However, the next two Warriors hit into fielder's choice plays to force both Roper and Smith out. With the bases loaded, Maddie Crouch walked to bring Cannady in to score and cut the Flying Fleet's lead in half.
The Flying Fleet were able to regain their two run advantage in the fifth inning as a single by Gabby Burroughs allowed one run to come in to score.
With one out in the fifth inning, the Warriors challenged once again. Rebecca Lamb reached on an error by the third baseman and then advanced to third base as Abby Schreiner drilled the ball to left center field for a double. With Olivia Haag pinch running for Lamb, Chloe Smith hit a single to left field to bring Haag in to score. They were not done as Talissa Cannady walked to load up the bases. However, Madison Truett hit into a fielder's choice that took Schreiner off the bases. With Josie Shoemaker at bat, a wild pitch allowed Smith to come in to score to tie the game up at three.
The Warriors were not done as they walked the game off in the seventh inning. With two outs, Chloe Smith reached on an error and then advanced to second as Talissa Cannady walked. A wild pitch allowed both Smith and Cannady to advance a base. Megan Ware came in to pinch hit and hit a single up the middle to bring Smith in to score to give the Warriors a 4-3 run victory.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host the Young Harris Mountain Lions on April 12. Prior to the first pitch, the Warriors will also recognize their senior class. The Warriors will wrap up the regular season on the road as they travel down to Rome, GA to take on the Shorter Hawks.
