Due West, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Erskine Flying Fleet in the series opener on Friday afternoon in a 10-3 final score.
The Warriors totaled 10 hits in the loss to the Flying Fleet. Matthew McCaffrey led the Warriors by going 3 for 4 at the plate. Both Nolan Evatt and Cole Kirschner had two hits in the game. Ethan Shimmel had the lone extra base hit for the Warriors as he picked up a double. Southern Wesleyan walked three times and both Evatt and McCaffrey stole bases.
Tanner Lewis started the first game of the series on the mound for the Warriors. Lewis pitched two innings and struck out one batter. Benjamin Applebee, Matthew White, Cayden Towell and Kamden Mongan each came in to pitch in relief. White led the team with two strikeouts in the game.
Game Vitals
Final: Erskine 10, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (6-14, 2-8 CC) Erskine (8-14, 6-4 CC)
How It Happened
The Warriors were first on the board in the series opener against the Flying Fleet as they brought a run in to score in the second inning. With two outs, Matthew McCaffrey hit the ball into center field for a single. McCaffrey then stole second to get into scoring position. Ryan Postnieks put the ball into play, but an error by Erskine's catcher allow McCaffrey to come in to score.
Erskine answered in the bottom of the third inning as a series of singles and walks allowed six runs to cross the plate and give the Flying Fleet a 6-1 run lead over the Warriors.
Southern Wesleyan answered in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Nolan Evatt hit a single into right center field. Evatt advanced to second as Cole Kirschner sent the ball to the opposite side of the field for a single. Ethan Shimmel got the ball into play, but an error by the Flying Fleets short stop allowed Evatt to come in to score the Warriors second run of the game.
The Warriors continued to chip away at the Flying Fleets lead as they brought in another run in the seventh inning. Luke Taylor led off the inning by hitting a single into right field. Taylor advanced to second as Tristan Tillman ground out to second. A wild pitch allowed Taylor to advance to within ninety feet of home plate. Nolan Evatt hit a sacrifice fly to center field to allow Taylor to come across home plate.
Ricky Dober and Danny Villafane kicked off the bottom of the seventh for the Flying Fleet with back-to-back solo home runs to allow Erskine to extend their lead to 8-3.
Erskine continued to attack the plate as they extended their lead further as Mason McManus hit a two run home run. The Flying Fleet went on to win the game in a 10-3 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the series against the Erskine Flying Fleet on March 7 in a doubleheader beginning at noon. They will then host the Newberry Wolves on March 10 in a doubleheader. The Warriors will travel to Mount Olive, NC to take on the University of Mount Olive Trojans on March 13-14.
