Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the first game of the series against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Friday evening in a 14-7 final score.
The Warriors picked up nine hits in the game with Ethan Shimmel leading the team with three. Luke Taylor had two hits in the loss. Shimmel doubled twice and Perry Dyer hit a home run. Southern Wesleyan walked eight times and stole six bases. Both Tristan Tillman and Nolan Evatt had two steals in the game. Shimmel and Taylor each stole one base.
Gavin Chandler started the game on the mound and pitched 1.1 innings while striking out one batter. Five Warriors came in to pitch in relief for the Warriors. Logan Brazell, Mason Clark and Zach Crisler also had strikeouts in the game.
Game Vitals
Final: Belmont Abbey 14, Southern Wesleyan 7
Record: Southern Wesleyan (14-27 / CC 8-17) Belmont Abbey (29-9 / CC 20-5)
How It Happened
Belmont Abbey brought two runs in to score in the top of the first inning off back-to-back singles by Michael Fattore and Jake Bidoglio.
A three run home run off the bat of Caleb Burr allowed the Crusaders to extend their lead to 5-0 in the top of the second inning.
The Warriors countered in the bottom of the third inning. Tristan Tillman led off the inning by being hit by a pitch, however Nolan Evatt hit into a fielder's choice that took Tillman off the bases. Ethan Shimmel then hit a double to right center field to allow Evatt to come in to score the Warriors first run of the game.
The Crusaders answered by plating six runs in the top of the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Perry Dyer sent the ball over the left center field fence for a solo home run.
Belmont Abbey extended their lead to 12-2 in the seventh inning as Michael Fattore hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Caleb Burr in to score.
The Warriors plated a couple more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Josh Long led off the inning by taking a four pitch walk. With Ethan Jarvis pinch running for Long and one out, Nolan Evatt hit a single into right field to allow Jarvis to advance to second. Ethan Shimmel doubled to right center field to clear the bases.
Southern Wesleyan challenged again in the bottom of the eighth inning. Luke Taylor reached first on an error at second base and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Ethan Jarvis walked. As Taylor and Jarvis attempted to complete a double steal, Jarvis was caught stealing to take him off the bases. Tristan Tillman walked and then stole second base. An error at short stop allowed Nolan Evatt to reach first and brought Taylor in to score. Evatt and Tillman stole bases and then Ethan Shimmel was hit by a pitch to load up the bases for Cole Kirschner. Kirschner hit a single into left field to allow both Tillman and Evatt to come in to score to put the Warriors behind the Crusaders 13-7.
Belmont Abbey brought in another run in the top of the ninth inning as Josh Wilson ground out to allow Mason Janz to come in to score. The Crusaders went on to win the game in a 14-7 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will wrap up the series against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on April 11 in a double header beginning at 1pm. Prior to the game, the Warriors will host their annual Military Appreciation ceremony beginning at 12:15pm. The Warriors will then travel to Wilson, NC to take on the Barton Bulldogs on April 17-18.
