Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the series against the Newberry Wolves on Tuesday afternoon. The Warriors took game one in a 14-4 final score. They then dropped game two in an 11-3 final.
The Warriors had nine hits in the first game of the doubleheader. Nolan Evatt led the team by going 3 for 5 at the plate. Cole Kirschner doubled and hit a grand slam home to give him a total of six RBIs in the game. Evatt tripled twice, and both Ethan Shimmel and Kade Bowling also homered in the game. Southern Wesleyan walked seven times and Tristan Tillman, Evatt and Shimmel each stole bases. Gavin Kent started the game on the mound. Six Warriors came in to pitch in relief. Tanner Lewis, Lukas Arvantides, Logan Brazell and Coleman Wylie all struck out a batter.
Southern Wesleyan picked up six hits in their second game against Newberry. Perry Dyer went 2 for 2 at the plate and doubled in one of his at bats. The Warriors walked seven times and Nolan Evatt stole a base. Benjamin Applebee started on the mound. Seven Warriors came in to pitch in relief. Matthew White, Cayden Towell and Caleb Gregory each struck out a batter.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 14, Newberry 4
Game Two Final: Newberry 11, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (8-16) Newberry (14-9)
How It Happened
Game One
The Wolves got on the board early in the first game of the afternoon as both Luke Compton and Logan Busenlehner came in to score.
Newberry extended their lead in the top of the fourth inning as a couple ground outs allowed both Finn McLaughlin and Jomar Lugo to come in to score to give the Wolves a 4-0 run lead.
Southern Wesleyan fought back in the bottom of the inning as Ethan Shimmel sent the ball down the left field line and over the fence for a solo shot.
The Warriors continued to chip away at the Wolves lead in the fifth inning. With one out, Luke Taylor got down a single and then advanced to second as Tristan Tillman was hit by a pitch. Nolan Evatt drilled the ball through the right side to allow Taylor to come in to score. Evatt and Tillman each stole a base to put them both in scoring position. An intentional walk to Ethan Shimmel loaded up the bases for Samuel Simonds. Simonds walked after five pitches to bring in Tillman for the Warriors third run of the game. With the bases loaded, Cole Kirschner sent the ball over the center field for a grand slam to give the Warriors a 7-4 run lead.
Southern Wesleyan continued to distance themselves from Newberry as they brought more runs in to score in the sixth. Luke Taylor led off the inning by reaching on a walk. An error at second allowed Tristan Tillman to reach first and then both runners advanced again on the error. With both Taylor and Tillman in scoring position, Nolan Evatt got in a triple to put the Warriors on top 9-4. Ethan Shimmel walked and then stole second base. With one out, Cole Kirschner hit a double to left center field to bring both Evatt and Shimmel in to score.
In the eighth inning, the Warriors struck again. Nolan Evatt sent the ball off the left center field fence for a triple. Ethan Shimmel hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to bring Evatt in to score. Samuel Simonds walked. With two outs and Ethan Jarvis pinch running for Simonds, Kade Bowling hit the ball over the right center field fence for a two run blast to give the Warriors a 14-4 run victory.
Game Two
The Wolves came out swinging in the second game of the evening as they plated runs in the first, second and fourth inning to take an 11-0 run lead over the Warriors.
Southern Wesleyan got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Luke Taylor hit a single to second base and then advanced to second as Nolan Evatt walked. Ethan Shimmel walked to load up the bases for Samuel Simonds. A walk to Simonds allowed Taylor to come in to score the Warriors first run of the game.
The Warriors got a couple more runs in to score in the sixth inning. Perry Dyer led off the inning by reaching on a walk. Beau Berge came in to pinch hit and walked on four pitches. With one out and two on, Luke Taylor hit into a fielder's choice that took Berge off the bases. Tristan Tillman followed by hitting a single into left center field to bring Dyer in to score. A wild pitch allowed both Tillman and Taylor to advance. As Nolan Evatt battled it out on the plate, a wild pitch on ball four allowed Taylor to come in to score. However the Warriors fell to the Wolves in an 11-3 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Mount Olive, NC on March 13-14 as they take on the University of Mount Olive Trojans in a three game series. They will then return to Dr. C Keith Connor Field on March 17 as they host the Anderson Trojans at 4pm. The Warriors will host the North Greenville Trailblazers on March 20-21.
