Belmont, NC – Southern Wesleyan split the series against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Wednesday afternoon. After dropping game one in extra innings in a 5-4 final, the Warriors claimed game two 4-2.
The Warriors totaled six hits in the first game of the afternoon. Marissa Moreland led the team by going 2 for 4 at the plate. Rebecca Lamb and Abby Schreiner each doubled in the game. Chloe Smith had two of the four RBIs, with the other RBIs coming off the bats of Schreiner and Abby Lawson. Emily Collins pitched a complete game in the circle and struck out five batters in the 7.2 innings she pitched.
Southern Wesleyan had seven hits in game two of the series. Both Reagan Fulcher and Chloe Smith went 2 for 4 at the plate. Rebecca Lamb had a double, and both Fulcher and Marissa Moreland homered in the game two victory. The Warriors walked twice and Abby Schreiner was hit by a pitch. Anicka McFarland pitched a complete game in the circle and struck out eight batters in the seven innings she pitched.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Belmont Abbey 5, Southern Wesleyan 4
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 4, Belmont Abbey 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (15-7 / CC 4-1) Belmont Abbey (8-14 / CC 2-4)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan was first on the board as they brought a run in to score in the top of the second. Olivia Haag led off the inning by reaching on an error. Back-to-back wild pitches allowed Haag to advance to third. Abby Lawson ground out to second base, but Haag was able to come in to score on the play to put the Warriors on top 1-0.
The Warriors struck again in the third inning. Maddie Crouch hit a single down the left field line. Reagan Fulcher hit into a fielder's choice, but the Crusaders were unable to get either runner out. A wild pitch allowed both Crouch and Fulcher to advance and get into scoring position. Rebecca Lamb then walked to load up the bases and bring Chloe Smith up to bat. Smith flew out to left center field to allow Crouch to come in to score the Warriors second run of the game.
Belmont Abbey answered in the bottom of the fifth inning as, with the bases loaded, Casey Laing hit a sacrifice fly out to left center field to allow Emily Gilchrist to come in to score. They tied the game up on the next batter as Megan Towery singled to allow Trinity Wall to cross home plate.
In extra innings, the Warriors regained the lead. With Maddie Crouch on second base, a ground out by Reagan Fulcher allowed Crouch to advanced to third. Rebecca Lamb followed by reaching first on a five pitch walk. Chloe Smith came up to bat with runners on the corners. Smith hit a single into left field to allow Crouch to come in to score. The Warriors were not done as Abby Schreiner came in to pinch hit and hit a double into left field to bring Lamb in to score and give the Warriors a 4-2 run advantage.
The Crusaders countered in the bottom of the eighth as a double by Hannah Jane Gard allowed Abby Peisker to come in to score. Belmont Abbey pressed on as a Jordyn Stefani delivered a walk-off double to allow the Crusaders to bring two more runs in to score and win game one in a 5-4 final.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan was first on the board in their second game against the Crusaders. Marissa Moreland led off the inning by reaching on a five pitch walk. Moreland advanced to second as Reagan Fulcher sent the ball through the right side for a single. With one out, Chloe Smith hit a single into center field to allow Moreland to come in to score the first run of the game.
A two run home run by Kennedy Teasley allowed Belmont Abbey to take the lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Belmont Abbey's lead was short lived as Reagan Fulcher sent the first pitch she saw over the left center field fence for a solo home run to tie the game up at two.
The Warriors would not relent as they struck again in the top of the fourth inning. Abby Schreiner led off the inning by hitting a single down the left field line. With Haydin Williams pinch running for Schreiner, Megan Ware came up to the plate and ground out to third base to allow Williams to advance to second. Maddie Crouch hit a sacrifice fly into left center field to allow Williams to come in to score. Marissa Moreland came up to the plate and drilled the ball over the left field fence for a solo home run to allow the Warriors to claim the 4-2 run victory over the Crusaders.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host the Francis Marion Patriots on March 13 in a doubleheader beginning at 2pm. They will then travel to Franklin Springs, GA to take on the Emmanuel Lions on March 14. On March 17, the Warriors will hit the road to Due West, SC to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet.
