Hickory, NC – Southern Wesleyan dropped both their games against the Lenoir Rhyne Bears on Saturday. After dropping game one 8-1, the Warriors fell to the Bears in a 5-4 final in extra innings in game two.
The Warriors had two hits in the first game of the series against the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne. Rebecca Lamb picked up both of the hits. Southern Wesleyan walked four times and Chloe Smith had the lone stolen base of the game. The Warriors turned one double play. Olivia Haag started the game in the circle and pitched 2.1 innings while striking out three batters.
Southern Wesleyan fell in extra innings in game two of the evening. The Warriors totaled seven hits in their second game of the day. Both Chloe Smith and Brandy Smith hit home runs, and Megan Ware had a double. Southern Wesleyan walked four times and Ware had a stolen base. Smith started the game in the circle and pitched seven innings while striking out six batters. Anicka McFarland came in to pitch in relief and struck out two in the two innings she pitched.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 8, Southern Wesleyan 1
Game Two Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 5, Southern Wesleyan 4
Records: Southern Wesleyan (7-6) Lenoir-Rhyne (11-5)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan came out quickly in the top of the first inning. Maddie Crouch led off by reaching first on a walk. Crouch advanced to second as Reagan Fulcher ground out to the second base. Rebecca Lamb sent the ball into center field for a single that allowed Crouch to come in to score to give the Warriors the lead.
Lenoir-Rhyne tied the game off as Joyce hit a lead off home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the first inning.
The Bears attacked the plate once again in the bottom of the second inning as a double by Lamantia and a single off the bat of Young allowed two more runs to come in to score.
Lenoir-Rhyne scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim the first game of the day in an 8-1 final.
Game Two
The Warriors went on the offensive early in game two of the afternoon. With one out, Megan Ware doubled. An error by the second baseman allowed Rebecca Lamb to reach first base and put Ware on third. Ware then stole first to give the Warriors a 1-0 run advantage over the Bears.
Lenoir-Rhyne answered in the bottom of the inning as, with two runners on, an error at third allowed Primm to come in to score to tie the game up.
The Bears took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as they brought two runs to come in to score.
Southern Wesleyan began to chip away at the Bears lead in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, Chloe Smith stepped up to the plate and sent the ball out over the left field fence for a solo home run.
In the top of the seventh inning, Brandy Smith came up to bat and sent the ball deep over the left field fence for her first collegiate home run to tie the game up at three.
Southern Wesleyan and Lenoir-Rhyne battled back and fourth in extra innings as they each plated runs in the eighth inning to keep the game tied up at four runs apiece.
Lenoir-Rhyne battled back to claim the game in the bottom of the 10th inning as a single by Brown brought in a run to win the game in a 5-4 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will host their Conference Carolinas opener on March 3 as they welcome the Emmanuel Lions to Varsity Field for a double header beginning at 2pm. They will then host the Mars Hill Lions on March 5. Southern Wesleyan will travel up to Banner Elk, NC on March 7 to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats.
