Banner Elk, NC – Southern Wesleyan took down Lees-McRae in a 12-1 final in their opening game of the series. The Warriors and Bobcats were unable to play game two due to inclement weather moving through the area.
The Warriors totaled 14 hits against the Bobcats. Rebecca Lamb led the Warriors by going 3 for 3 at the plate. Lamb, Abby Lawson, Riley Brown and Maddie Crouch each doubled. Marissa Moreland and Chloe Smith homered. Both Lamb and Reagan Fulcher had three RBIs in the game. Crouch stole one base. Olivia Haag started in the circle for the Warriors and pitched five innings while striking out three batters to pick up the win.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 12, Lees-McRae 1
Records: Southern Wesleyan (12-6 / CC 3-0) Lees-McRae (7-10 / CC 1-2)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan went on the attack quickly in the series against the Bobcats as Marissa Moreland sent the ball over the left center field fence to give the Warriors a 1-0 run lead. The Warriors were not done in the inning as, with one out, Rebecca Lamb hit a double to right center field. Chloe Smith came up to the plate and hit a home run over the left center field fence to extend the Warriors lead to 3-0.
The Warriors struck again in the second inning. Megan Ware led off the inning by dropping the ball into left field for a single. Riley Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt to allow Ware to advance to second. A single off the bat of Maddie Crouch put runners on the corner. Crouch then stole second to put two runners in scoring position and bring Marissa Moreland up to bat. Moreland put the ball into play and reached first on a throwing error by the Bobcats third baseman. During the throwing error, Ware came in to score the Warriors fourth run of the game. Reagan Fulcher then hit a single into left field to bring Crouch in to score. However, an error by the left fielder allowed Fulcher to advance to second and brought Moreland in to score. With one out and Fulcher on second, Rebecca Lamb hit a single into center field to bring Fulcher in to score. As the Bobcats looked to gun down Fulcher at home plate, Lamb advance to second base. An error at second allowed Chloe Smith to reach first base. With runners on the corners and two outs, Abby Lawson hit a double down the left field line to bring both Lamb and Smith in to score to give the Warriors a 9-0 run lead.
Lees-McRae got a run on the board in the bottom of the second inning as, with Maycee Tickle on third base, Kierstin Kemper flew out to left field to bring Tickle in to score.
Riley Brown led off the third inning for the Warriors by hitting the ball into right field for a double. Brown came in to score as Maddie Crouch doubled to left field. Marissa Moreland followed with a single to put runners on the corners and bring Reagan Fulcher up to bat. Fulcher ground out to the shortstop to bring Crouch in to score. With one out, Rebecca Lamb hit the ball up the middle for a single. Chloe Smith then singled to bring Moreland to come in to score to give Southern Wesleyan a 12-1 run victory over Lees-McRae.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Charlotte, NC to take on the Johnson C Smith Golden Bulls on March 9 in a doubleheader beginning at 1pm. They will remain on the road on March 11 as they travel to Belmont, NC to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders. The Warriors will host the Francis Marion Patriots on March 13.
