Young Harris, GA – Southern Wesleyan picks up at least a share in the Conference Carolinas Southwest Division title as they swept past the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors took game one 9-4 before taking game two in a 4-3 final score.
The Warriors picked up eight hits in the first game of the afternoon. Both Reagan Fulcher and Olivia Haag had two hits in the game. Fulcher and Rebecca Lamb each doubled, and Haag picked up a triple. Southern Wesleyan walked six times and both Abby Lawson and Megan Ware stole bases. Haag started the first game of the series in the circle and struck out five batters in the seven innings she pitched.
Southern Wesleyan picked up seven hits in the second game of the series. Megan Ware had the lone multi-base hit as she hit a double. Marissa Moreland led the team with three RBIs in the game. Ware stole the lone base and Abby Schreiner was hit by a pitch. Anicka McFarland pitched a complete game in the circle and struck out five batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 9, Young Harris 4
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 4, Young Harris 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (31-11 / 19-4) Young Harris (29-15 / CC 21-5)
How It Happened
Game One
Young Harris was first on the board in the opening game of the series as a couple of errors allowed the Mountain Lions to take an early 4-0 run advantage in the bottom of the first inning.
Southern Wesleyan answered in the top of the second inning. Olivia Haag led off the inning by hitting a single to the Mountain Lions' shortstop. Abby Schreiner then walked. A wild pitch allowed both Haag and Schreiner to advance a base. An error at third allowed Megan Ware to reach first and brought Haag in to score the Warriors first run of the game. Ware then stole second base to get into scoring position. A walk to Marissa Moreland loaded up the bases for Reagan Fulcher. Fulcher sent the ball into right field for a single that allowed both Schreiner and Ware to come in to score.
The Warriors would not relent as they struck again in the third inning. Olivia Haag led off the inning by hitting a triple to right center field. Abby Schreiner was hit by a pitch and Abby Lawson walked to load up the bases for Maddie Crouch. Crouch sent the ball into left field for a single that allow Haag to come in and score. Megan Ware then stepped up to the plate and got the ball into left field for a two RBI single that brought both Schreiner and Lawson in to score and force the Mountain Lions to go to the bullpen. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Marissa Moreland allowed Crouch to come in to score. With one out and Ware at second base, Reagan Fulcher was hit by a pitch to bring Rebecca Lamb up to bat. Lamb drilled the ball into left center field for a double that brought Ware to come in to score. Chloe Smith followed with a single to bring Fulcher home and give the Warriors a 9-4 run victory over Young Harris in game one.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan continued to fight in game two of the series. Abby Schreiner was hit by the second pitch she saw to lead off the inning. Schreiner advanced to second as Maddie Crouch hit the ball into right field for a single. With Chalee Roper pinch running for Abby Schriener, Megan Ware hit into a fielder's choice that took Roper off the bases. Ware then stole second base to get into scoring position. Marissa Moreland came up to the plate and hit a single into left field to bring both Crouch and Ware in to score.
The Warriors extended their lead in the fourth inning. Abby Lawson led off the inning by hitting a single to the shortstop. With one out and Lawson at first, Megan Ware hit a double to center field to allow Lawson to advance to third base. An error at shortstop allowed Moreland to reach first and brought Lawson in to score. Reagan Fulcher hit into a fielder's choice that took Moreland off the bases but allowed Ware to come in to score the Warriors' fourth run of the game.
Young Harris fought back in the bottom of the fifth inning as an error and a fielder's choice allowed three runs to come in to score.
The Mountain Lions challenged once again in the bottom of the seventh inning as a single and a wild pitch allowed Riley Ratzlaff to reach second. However, Anicka McFarland was able to get Gracie Hughes to strike out looking and forced Mallory Clark to ground out to first to allow the Warriors to claim the game in a 4-3 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel down to Rome, GA to take on the Shorter Hawks on April 15. The Warriors will wrap up the regular season on April 18 as they take on the Converse Valkyries.
