Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in the opening game of the series against North Greenville on Friday evening in a 17-6 final score.
The Warriors totaled 12 hits in the loss to the Trailblazers. Nolan Evatt led the team by going 3 for 5 at the plate. Evatt, Cole Kirschner and Luke Taylor each doubled. Southern Wesleyan walked three times and stole three bases. Evatt had two steals while the other stolen base came from Tristan Tillman.
Lukas Arvantides started the game on the mound and pitched 4.2 innings while striking out one batter. Gavin Kent and Jacob Webb came in to pitch in relief. Kent struck out two and Webb had three strikeouts.
Game Vitals
Final: North Greenville 17, Southern Wesleyan 6
Records: Southern Wesleyan (9-20 / 4-12) North Greenville (23-6 / 12-4)
How It Happened
North Greenville was first on the board as Lane McGaha hit a two run home run to allow the Trailblazers to take a 2-0 run lead in the top of the first inning.
The Warriors answered in the bottom of the inning. Tristan Tillman led off the inning by hitting a single into center field. Nolan Evatt followed by sending the ball into right field for a double that allowed Tillman to advance to third base. With two runners in scoring position, Ethan Shimmel hit into a fielder's choice that took Evatt off the bases but allowed Tillman to come in to score. Sam Simonds walked and then both Simonds and Shimmel advanced on an error by the Trailblazers' pitcher. Perry Dyer put the ball into play, but an error at shortstop allowed him to advance to second base. Both Shimmel and Simonds were able to come in to score on the error to allow the Warriors to take the lead.
Landon Peavy started the second inning with a home run to allow the Trailblazers to tie the game up at three.
In the top of the third inning, a two run home run by Lane McGaha allowed North Greenville to regain the lead.
The Warriors continued to battle in the fourth inning. Cole Kirschner hit a double into left field. With Kirschner at second and two outs, Luke Taylor sent the ball down the right field line for a double that brought Kirschner in to score.
The Trailblazers would not relent as they attacked the plate once again in the fifth inning as they brought eight runs in to score to extend their lead to 13-4.
North Greenville attacked again in the sixth inning as Cooper Noble hit a solo home run.
Southern Wesleyan plated a couple of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tristan Tillman led off by hitting a single to left field and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Nolan Evatt sent the ball into center field for a single that allowed Tillman to come in to score. With one out and Evatt at first, Samuel Simonds was hit by a pitch. Evatt then stole third base to come to within ninety feet of home plate. Perry Dyer reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Evatt to come in to score the Warriors sixth and final run of the game.
The Trailblazers brought two more runs in to score in the top of the ninth inning to win the game in a 17-6 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the series against North Greenville on March 21 in a doubleheader beginning at 1pm. They will then travel to Anderson, SC to take on the Anderson Trojans on March 24 at 4pm. On March 27-28, the Warriors will travel down to Franklin Springs, GA to take on the Emmanuel Lions.
