Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the series against the University of Mount Olive Trojans on Friday afternoon. The Warriors took game one in an 8-0 final in five innings before dropping the second game in a 7-3 final score.
The Warriors collected 10 hits in their first game of the series. Marissa Moreland and Megan Ware each went 2 for 3 at the plate with two doubles apiece in the game. Reagan Fulcher also doubled in the game. Abby Schreiner walked and Ware had the lone stolen base of the game. Olivia Haag started the game in the circle and pitched 3.1 innings while striking out two batters. Emily Collins closed out the game and pitched the final 1.2 innings while striking out one batter.
Southern Wesleyan picked up six hits in the second game of the day. Maddie Crouch led the Warriors as she went 2 for 4 at the plate. Chloe Smith was the lone Warrior to have an extra base hit as she doubled in the game. The Warriors walked six times and Abby Schreiner was hit by a pitch twice. Smith started the game in the circle. Emily Collins and Anicka McFarland came in to pitch in relief. Both Collins and McFarland struck out two.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 8, Mount Olive 0
Game Two Final: Mount Olive 7, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (19-9 / CC 8-3) Mount Olive (16-16 / CC 8-6)
How It Happened
Game One
The Warriors struck first as they brought two runs in to score in the bottom of the first inning. Marissa Moreland led off by hitting a double to right center field and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Reagan Fulcher sent the ball out to left center field for a double that allowed Moreland to come in to score. Fulcher advanced to third as Rebecca Lamb ground out to short stop and bring Chloe Smith up to bat. Smith hit a single into left field to bring Fulcher in to score to put Southern Wesleyan on top 2-0.
In the bottom of the second inning the Warriors struck again. Abby Schreiner walked and then Madeleine Knop came in to pinch run. Knop advanced to second as Maddie Crouch put down a single. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance. With Megan Ware at bat, another wild pitch allow Knop to come in to score. Ware then drilled the ball off the left field fence for a double that brought Crouch to come in to score to give Southern Wesleyan a 4-0 run lead.
Mount Olive challenged in the fourth inning as they loaded up the bases, but Emily Collins came in to pitch and force the next two Trojans to get out to prevent them from getting on the board.
Southern Wesleyan extended their lead in the fourth inning. With two outs, Riley Brown hit a single through the right side. Marissa Moreland doubled to left center to bring Brown in to score.
The Warriors claimed the victory in the bottom of the fifth inning as they brought three more runs in to score. Rebecca Lamb reached first on an error by the Trojans pitcher. Lamb advanced to second as Chloe Smith reached first on an error on third base. With one out, Abby Schreiner ground out to the pitcher to allow both runners to advance. Maddie Crouch hit a single down the left field line to allow both Smith and Lamb to come in to score. Megan Ware sent the ball into right field and off the right field fence for a double that allowed Crouch to cross home plate and give Southern Wesleyan an 8-0 run victory.
Game Two
The Trojans went on the attack early in the second game of the day as hits by Emma King, Brittany Stephens and Kynley Brewer brought three runs in to score.
Southern Wesleyan got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Abby Schreiner was hit by a pitch. Schreiner advanced to second as Abby Lawson walked. Maddie Crouch sent the ball into right center field for a single to allow Schriener to come in to score.
Mount Olive regained their three run lead in the top of the third inning as Kynley Brewer got down a single to allow Emma King to come in to score. However, Olivia Haag made a sliding grab in right field to keep the Trojans from extending their lead any further.
The Warriors continued to chip into the Trojans lead in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Reagan Fulcher walked. Fulcher came in to score as Chloe Smith hit the ball into left center field for a double.
However, the Trojans continued to attack the plate as Samantha Taylor hit a three run home run over the center field fence to extend their lead to 7-2.
Southern Wesleyan was not discouraged as they fought back in the sixth inning. Maddie Crouch led off by hitting a single into center field. With two outs, Reagan Fulcher singled to left center field to allow Crouch to advance to second. An error at third allowed Rebecca Lamb to reach base. However, the Trojans' shortstop bobbled the ball to allow Crouch to come in to score the Warriors third run. Mount Olive went on to win the second game in a 7-3 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will host the Young Harris Mountain Lions on March 25 in a doubleheader at 2pm. They will then welcome the Shorter Hawks to Central, SC on March 28. Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Augusta, GA on March 31 to take on the Augusta Jaguars.
