Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped their mid-week contest against the Anderson Trojans on Tuesday evening in a 9-5 final score.
The Warriors picked up 11 hits in the loss to the Trojans. Cole Kirschner led the team by going 3 for 5 at the plate. Both Tristan Tillman and Nolan Evatt followed with two hits in the game. Ethan Shimmel recorded the lone extra base hit of the game for the Warriors as he doubled. Southern Wesleyan walked five times and stole five bases. Tillman and Evatt each stole two with Matthew McCaffrey following with one steal. With Tillman's second steal in the game, he broke the record for stolen bases in a single season as he collected his 44th steal.
Mason Clark started the game on the mound. Clark was followed by eight other pitchers in the game. Cayden Towell, Kamden Mongan, Zach Crisler, Benjamin Applebee, Jacob Webb, Drue Overmyer and Gabe Connelly each struck out one batter in the game.
Game Vitals
Final: Anderson 9, Southern Wesleyan 5
Records: Southern Wesleyan (15-32) Anderson (23-23)
How It Happened
Anderson charged out of the gates as they plated runs in the first, second and third innings to take a 5-0 run lead.
The Warriors challenged in the bottom of the third inning. Matthew McCaffrey hit a single into right field. Tristan Tillman laid down a bunt single to allow McCaffrey to advance to second base. Stolen bases by both McCaffrey and Tillman put both runners in scoring position for Nolan Evatt. Evatt ground out to second base to bring McCaffrey in to score. Then a sacrifice fly by Ethan Shimmel allowed Tillman to come across home plate to put the Warriors behind the Trojans 5-2.
The Trojans regained a four run lead in the fifth inning as a wild pitch brought Riley Matthews in to score.
Anderson went on to bring two more runs in to score in the top of the sixth inning off a double by Myles Denton and a ground out by Gray Wells.
Southern Wesleyan was not done as they brought another run in to score in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Kade Bowling hit a single to right field. Josh Long drilled the ball past the shortstop to reach first and put Bowling at third base. Luke Taylor hit a single into right field to bring Bowling in to score the Warriors third run of the game. Back-to-back walks Matthew McCaffrey and Tristan Tillman brought another run in to score.
The Trojans extended their lead to 9-4 in the top of the eighth inning as a double by Adams Faucett allowed Riley Matthews to come in to score.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Warriors had a major milestone and school record hit as Tristan Tillman stole his 44th base in the season to break the school record of stolen bases in a single season.
The Warriors brought another run in to score in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ethan Shimmel kicked off the inning by sending the ball into right field for a double. Cole Kirschner followed with a single. With one out, Josh Long was hit by a pitch to load up the bases. Luke Taylor hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Shimmel in to score. However, the Warriors fell to the Trojans in a 9-5 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on April 24-25 as they host the Shorter Hawks. Prior to the beginning of the doubleheader on Saturday, the Warriors will celebrate their 2026 senior class.
