Montgomery, AL – Southern Wesleyan dropped the first game of the series to the Auburn Montgomery Warhawks on Friday evening in an 11-9 final score.
The Warriors picked up 11 hits against the Warhawks. Nolan Evatt led the team with three hits including a home run and a double. Josh Long also had multiple hits in the game as he went 2 for 3 at the plate. Evatt was not the only Warrior to hit a home run in the game as both Ryan Postnieks and Ethan Jarvis also homered in the loss. Southern Wesleyan walked five times and Kade Bowling had the lone stolen base of the game.
Gavin Chandler started the first game of the series for the Warriors. Chandler pitched four innings while striking out one batter. Logan Brazell came in to pitch in relief and pitched the final four innings while striking out one batter.
Game Vitals
Final: Auburn Montgomery 11, Southern Wesleyan 9
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-2) Auburn Montgomery (2-3)
How It Happened
The Warriors were first on the board in the opening game of the series against the Warhawks of Auburn Montgomery. With one out, Nolan Evatt came up to the plate and sent the ball over the left center field fence for a solo home run.
Southern Wesleyan's lead was short lived, however, as several hits by the Warhawks gave them a 5-1 run advantage in the bottom of the first inning.
The Warriors began to chip away at the Warhawks lead in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Ethan Shimmel hit a single down the right field line. Catcher Ryan Postnieks came up to the plate and sent the ball over the left field fence for a two run shot.
Auburn Montgomery pressed on in the bottom of the inning as they brought five more runs in to score.
Southern Wesleyan put up a couple more runs in the fifth inning. With one out, Kade Bowling got the ball through the right side of the field for a single. Nolan Evatt picked up his second multi-base hit of the game as he hit a double into right field to allow Bowling to advance to third. With two runners in scoring position, a ground out by Cole Kirschner allowed Evatt to advance to third and brought Bowling across home plate. Josh Long followed by hitting a single into left field to bring Evatt in to score and put the Warriors behind the Warhawks 10-5.
Auburn Montgomery plated another run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Hipp hit into a fielder's choice that brought Miller in to score.
Ethan Jarvis kick started the top of the seventh inning for Southern Wesleyan as he sent the ball over the left field wall for a solo home run. After Jarvis went long, Kade Bowling came up to bat and was hit by a pitch and then stole second to get into scoring position. Nolan Evatt hit a single through the left side to bring Bowling in to score for the Warriors. After Cole Kirschner reached on a fielder's choice that took Evatt off the bases, Josh Long and Ethan Shimmel both walked to load up the bases for Ryan Postnieks. Postnieks walked in the Warriors eighth run of the game to force the Warhawks to go to the bullpen. Matthew McCaffrey came up to bat and hit a single through the right side of the field to bring Long in to score. However, Southern Wesleyan could not pass Auburn Montgomery as they fell in a 11-9 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will continue in their series against the Auburn Montgomery Warhawks on February 7 in a doubleheader beginning at 1pm. They will then host their home opener on February 10 as they welcome the Mars Hill Lions to Dr. C Keith Connor Field. The Warriors will travel to Augusta, GA on February 11 to take on the Augusta Jaguars.
