Daytona Beach, FL - The Warriors took down the Choctaws of Mississippi College in a stunning 10-0 final in their first game of the 2026 season. Southern Wesleyan fell in their second game of the evening to the Embry-Riddle Eagles in a 4-3 final score.
In their first game of the season, the Warriors totaled seven hits. Olivia Haag led the team with two hits in the form of a double and a grand slam home run. She brought in seven RBIs. The other RBIs came from Abby Lawson and Megan Ware. Ware went on to have the other double of the game for Southern Wesleyan. Haag start in the circle for the Warriors and pitched five innings while only allowing two hits and striking out one batter.
Southern Wesleyan picked up seven hits in game two of the day. Olivia Haag led the team with two hits. Abby Lawson doubled and the lone RBI of the game came off the bat of Megan Ware. The Warriors walked three times and three players were hit by pitches. Chloe Smith started the second game of the day for Southern Wesleyan. Smith pitched five innings while striking out four batters. Emily Collins came in to pitch in relief and struck out two batters in the one inning she pitched in.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 10, Mississippi College 0
Game Two Final: Embry-Riddle 4, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-1) Mississippi College (3-4) Embry-Riddle (1-3)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan vs Mississippi College
The Warriors attacked the plate early in the game as they brought several runs in to score in the bottom of the first inning. Maddie Crouch and Reagan Fulcher reached on back-to-back walks to lead off the inning. With one out, Abby Lawson hit into a fielder's choice that took Crouch off the base pads and brought Olivia Haag up to bat. Haag hit the ball into right center field for a double that brought both runners in to score. With two out and Haag in scoring position, Abby Schreiner walked. Megan Ware came up to bat and hit a double into left field that brought Haag in to score to give the Warriors a 3-0 run lead.
Southern Wesleyan pushed on in the second inning. Riley Brown led off by hitting a single through the left side. She advanced to second base as Maddie Crouch hit a single to left field. With two on, Chloe Smith reached first on an error by the third baseman. Another error by the Choctaw third baseman allowed Abby Lawson to reach first and brought Brown in to score the Warriors first run of the inning. Southern Wesleyan was not done as Olivia Haag came up for her second at bat of the game and sent the ball deep over the center field wall for a grand slam home run to give the Warriors an 8-0 run lead over the Choctaws.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Warriors brought two more runs in to score. Maddie Crouch reached first on an error and then advanced to second on the play. Reagan Fulcher then walked to put two runners on base. Chalee Roper came in to pinch run for Fulcher and then both runners advanced a base on a passed ball. With two on and one out, Abby Lawson hit a single up the middle to bring Crouch in to score. Lawson went on to advance to second on the throw to put both runners in scoring position for Olivia Haag. Haag popped up to second base to bring Roper in to score and allow the Warriors to win their first game of the season in a 10-0 final score.
Southern Wesleyan vs Embry-Riddle
Southern Wesleyan and Embry-Riddle battled in a pitcher's dual between Chloe Smith and Morse during the first three innings of the game.
The Warriors pushed on as they brought the first two runs of the game in to score in the top of the fourth inning. Olivia Haag led off the inning by sending the ball through the left side of the field for a single. Megan Ware hit into a fielder's choice, but the Eagles were not able to get the lead off runner with Haag's speed on the bases. With two on, Abby Schreiner was hit by a pitch to load up the bases. Gabby Smith hit into a fielder's choice, but an error by the Eagles allowed both Ware and Haag to come in to score to give the Warriors a 2-0 run lead.
Embry-Riddle countered in the bottom of the inning as, with Morse on third base, Arnold hit a double into left field to bring Morse across home plate and put the Eagles on the board.
The Warriors struck again in the top of the fifth inning. Chloe Smith led off the fifth inning by hitting a single up the middle. Abby Lawson followed by hitting a ground rule double over the right field fence to allow Smith to advance to third base. With two runners in scoring position and one out, Megan Ware hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Smith across home plate for the Warriors third run of the game.
The Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the same inning as a double by Wood and a single by Orr allowed three runs to come in to score to give Embry-Riddle a 4-3 run victory.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain in Daytona Beach, FL on February 6 as they face Mississippi College at 10 am and then West Alabama at 12:30 pm. They will wrap up the tournament on February 7 as they take on the Tampa Spartans at 10am. The Warriors will compete in Lander's tournament on February 13-14 where they will face Emory & Henry, Middle Georgia and Lander during the two day tournament.
