Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in the final two games of the series against North Greenville in 7-6 and 6-1 final scores.
The Warriors had 10 hits in the first game of the day with both Perry Dyer and Luke Taylor each recording two hits. Taylor and Kade Bowling doubled, and Dyer picked up his second home run of the season. Southern Wesleyan walked three times and Tristan Tillman was hit by a pitch. Tanner Lewis started the game on the mound and pitched 2.2 innings while striking out four batters. Matthew White and Logan Brazell each came in to pitch in relief. White struck out two and Brazell picked up one strikeout.
Southern Wesleyan had four hits in game two. Ethan Shimmel led the team with two hits. Kade Bowling was the lone Warrior to walk and the Warriors stole four bases. Shimmel stole two bases while both Luke Taylor and Tristan Tillman stole one base each. Gavin Chandler started the second game of the day and struck out one batter over five innings. Caleb Gregory pitched the final inning and struck out two batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: North Greenville 7, Southern Wesleyan 6
Game Two Final: North Greenville 6, Southern Wesleyan 1
Records: Southern Wesleyan (9-22 / CC 4-14) North Greenville (25-6 / CC 14-4)
How It Happened
Game One
Southern Wesleyan struck first in the first game of the afternoon. Kade Bowling led off the inning by hitting the ball down the right field line for a double. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Cole Kirschner allowed Bowling to advance to third. Matthew McCaffrey hit a single through the left side to bring Bowling in to score. Seth Pettett sent the second pitch he saw through the left side of the field to allow McCaffrey to advance to third. With runners on the corners, Luke Taylor hit a single down the left field line to bring McCaffrey in to score the Warriors second run of the inning. Tristan Tillman got in a single to load up the bases for Nolan Evatt. Evatt hit a sacrifice fly into left field to bring Pettett in to score and give the Warriors 3-0 run lead.
North Greenville answered in the top of the third inning as a walk by Skyler Hegler and a single off the bat of Jake Sears allowed three runs in to score.
Perry Dyer stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the third inning and sent the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to allow the Warriors to regain the lead. Kade Bowling walked and then Cole Kirschner hit a single into left center field to put two runners on and bring Matthew McCaffrey up to the plate. McCaffrey laid down a sacrifice bunt to allow both runners to advance a base. With two outs, Luke Taylor sent the ball to deep right field and off the fence for a bases clearing double that allowed Southern Wesleyan to regain their three run advantage.
In the top of the sixth inning, a couple errors by the Warriors allowed the Trailblazers to bring in another run. A two run home run off the bat of Josh Foulks allowed North Greenville to tie the game up at six.
North Greenville brought in their final run of the game in the top of the seventh to claim a 7-6 run victory.
Game Two
The Trailblazers were first on the board in the second game of the day as a single off the bat of Lane McGaha allowed Thomas Powell to come in to score.
Southern Wesleyan answered in the bottom of the inning. Tristan Tillman led off the inning by sending the ball through the left side of the field for a single. Tillman stole second base to get into scoring position. With one out, Ethan Shimmel hit a single up the middle to allow Tillman to come in to score and tie the game up at one.
North Greenville regained the lead in the second inning as a three run home run off the bat of Josh Foulks put them on top 4-1.
The Trailblazers threatened again in the top of the third inning as they got two runners on. However, Nolan Evatt made a diving grab in left field to collect the third out and prevent North Greenville from extending their lead.
North Greenville extended their lead in the top of the fifth inning as they brought two more runners in to score to win the game in a 6-1.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Anderson, SC on March 24 as they take on the Anderson Trojans at 4pm. They will then take on the Emmanuel Lions on March 27-28 in Franklin Springs, GA. The Warriors will host the Augusta Jaguars on March 31 at 5pm.
