Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the first game of the series to the Shorter Hawks on Friday in a 5-4 final score.
The Warriors totaled nine hits in the series opener against Shorter. Cole Kirschner went 3 for 4 at the plate. Kirschner's hits included, a single, a double and a triple, just short of the cycle. The other double of the game came off the bat of Perry Dyer. Ethan Shimmel had the lone stolen base of the game.
Caleb Gregory started the game for the Warriors. Gregory pitched four innings while striking out six batters. Matthew White and Gavin Kent both came in to pitch in relief for the Warriors. White pitched four innings and struck out five, while Kent pitched the final inning of the game and had one strikeout.
Game Vitals
Final: Shorter 5, Southern Wesleyan 4
Records: Southern Wesleyan (15-33) Shorter (16-27)
How It Happened
Shorter was first on the board in the opening game of the series as Reece Newberry sent the ball over the left field fence for a two run home run.
The Hawks attacked again as, with runners at second and third, Griffin Tamucci hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to bring in their third run of the game.
Southern Wesleyan fought back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nolan Evatt led off the inning by hitting a single into center field. With one out, Cole Kirschner hit a triple into right center field to allow Evatt to cross home plate. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Kade Bowling brought Kirschner in to put the Warriors within one.
However, Shorter regained their three run advantage in the seventh inning off a two-run home run by Drake Cobb.
The Warriors were not done as they plated a couple more runs in the bottom of the eighth. An error allowed Tristan Tillman to reach first base. However, Nolan Evatt hit into a fielder's choice on the next play to take Tillman off the bases. Ethan Shimmel hit a single into center field to put runners on the corners and bring Cole Kirschner up to bat. Kirschner sent the ball into left field for a single that allowed Evatt to come in to score. A throwing error as Ethan Shimmel stole third allowed Shimmel to then come in to score. However, the Warriors could not fight back any more as they fell to the Hawks in a 5-4 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on April 25 as they host the Shorter Hawks in a doubleheader beginning at 1pm. The Warriors will celebrate their senior class prior to the game.
