Greenwood, SC – The Warriors picked up two wins in the final two games of the Lander Tournament. Southern Wesleyan picked up their first win the day as they took down the Middle Georgia Knights in a 5-3 final score. They then defeated the Lander Bearcats in a 4-1 final in game two.
The Warriors picked up 10 hits against the Knights of Middle Georgia. Megan Ware led the team with two hits in the game. Maddie Crouch recorded her first home run of the season, and both Chloe Smith and Olivia Haag had doubles. Riley Brown had two of the four RBIs of the game. The other RBIs came off the bats of Crouch and Abby Schreiner. Abby Lawson was the lone Warrior to walk, and both Sarah Woody and Ware stole bases. Anicka McFarland started the game in the circle and pitched 5.1 innings while striking out seven batters to gain her first collegiate win. Chloe Smith picked up her first save of the season.
Southern Wesleyan had four hits in their second game of the day. The lone RBI of the game came off the bat of Rebecca Lamb in the form of a solo home run. The Warriors walked two times. Olivia Haag pitched a complete game in the circle for the Warriors and struck out two batters to gain the win.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 5, Middle Georgia 3
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 4, Lander 1
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-4) Middle Georgia (3-6) Lander (5-3)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan vs Middle Georgia
The Warriors went on the offensive in the second inning. With one out, Olivia Haag hit a double into left field. Abby Lawson followed by hitting a single into center field to put two runners on and bring Abby Schreiner up to bat. Schreiner hit the ball down the left field line for a single that allowed Haag to come in to score.
Maddie Crouch came out swinging in the third inning as she drilled the ball over the left field fence for her first home run of the season to extend the Warriors lead to 2-0.
Middle Georgia cut Southern Wesleyan's lead in half in the top of the fifth inning as Vales came in to score as the Warriors stopped Cosgrove from stealing a base.
The Warriors regained their two run advantage in the bottom of the inning. Marissa Moreland led off by hitting a single through the left side of the field. Moreland advanced to second as Maddie Crouch laid down a sacrifice bunt. Reagan Fulcher followed by hitting a single that allowed Moreland to advance to third. With runners on the corners, a fielding error by the Knights allowed Rebecca Lamb to reach first and brought Brown, who was pinch running for Moreland, in to score the Warriors third run of the game.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Knights brought in their second run of the game on a bases loaded walk to Akeson.
Southern Wesleyan was not done as they brought in a couple more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Abby Lawson led off reaching first on a walk. With Gabby Smith pinch running for Lawson, Abby Schreiner hit into a fielder's choice that took Smith off the bases. Megan Ware followed by hitting a single through the left side of the field to allow Schreiner to advance to second base. Sarah Woody came in to pinch run for Schreiner, and then both Woody and Ware stole bases. With two runners in scoring position, Riley Brown hit the ball up the middle for a bases clearing single to put the Warriors on top 5-2.
Middle Georgia challenged in the top of the seventh inning as a sacrifice fly by Oliver allowed Cosgrove to come in to score to force the Warriors to go to the bull pen. Chloe Smith came in to pitch for the Warriors and caused Kirkland to ground out to give the Warriors a 5-3 victory over the Knights.
Southern Wesleyan vs Lander
The Warriors were first on the board in their game against the Bearcats as they brought three runs in to score in the top of the third inning. Megan Ware led off the inning by reaching on a walk. Ware advanced to second as Riley Brown hit a single to third base. With one out and two on base, Reagan Fulcher reached first on an error by the third baseman to load up the bases. Chloe Smith came up to bat and put the ball into play. However, an error by the short stop allowed all three base runners to come around to score and give the Warriors a 3-0 run lead.
Lander scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as Bumgarner sent the ball over the right center field fence.
Southern Wesleyan regained their three run lead in the top of the sixth inning. Rebecca Lamb came up to bat and drilled the ball over the left center field fence for a solo home run to give the Warriors a 4-1 run advantage to win the game.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters in their home opener on February 21 in a double header beginning at 1pm. They will then travel to Hickory, NC to take on the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears on February 28.
