Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan split the final two games of the series against the Shorter Hawks on Saturday. The Warriors dropped the first game in an 11-6 final, but then claimed game two 3-2.
The Warriors picked up 11 hits in the first game of the day. Perry Dyer went 3 for 3 at the plate. Both Ethan Shimmel and Cole Kirschner had two hits during the game. Dyer picked up a double and a home run. The other multi-base hit came in the form of a double by Shimmel. Southern Wesleyan walked four times and both Kade Bowling and Matthew McCaffrey were hit by pitches. Ash Faulk started the game on the mound and pitched one inning. Six Warriors came in to pitch in relief. Coleman Wylie led the team with three strikeouts in the game.
Southern Wesleyan totaled eight hits in the second game of the evening. Both Nolan Evatt and Cole Kirschner led the team with two hits. Tristan Tillman doubled and Kade Bowling picked up a triple. Matthew McCaffrey was the lone Warrior to walk and then stole the Warriors only base of the game. Gavin Chandler pitched a complete game for the Warriors and struck out six batters in the six innings he pitched.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Shorter 11, Southern Wesleyan 6
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 3, Shorter 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (16-34 / CC 10-23) Shorter (17-28 / CC 8-25)
How It Happened
Game One
Shorter was first on the board in the first game of the double header as a single off the bat of Reece Newberry allowed Drake Cobb to come in to score the first run of the game.
The Warriors answered in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Nolan Evatt sent the ball past the second baseman for a single. Evatt then advanced to second as Ethan Shimmel hit a single. Kade Bowling was then hit by a pitch to load up the bases for Perry Dyer. Dyer collected a four pitch walk to bring Evatt in to score and tie the game up.
The Hawks regained the advantage in the top of the second inning as Josh Tattershall sent the ball over the left field fence for a solo home run. However, Coleman Wylie was able to force Cameron Adams to ground out and prevent Shorter from extending their lead any further.
Shorter continued their attacks on the plate as Michael Barron hit a single to left center to allow Wilmer Henriquez to come in to score.
Southern Wesleyan cut Shorter's lead down to one in the bottom of the fourth inning. Perry Dyer led off the inning by hitting a double to left field. With one out, Josh Long walked. Cotes Reid came in to pinch run for Long. Both Reid and Dyer advanced as Matthew McCaffrey hit a single to shortstop. A sacrifice fly out to center field for Tristan Tillman allowed Dyer to come in to score.
A three run home run in the top of the fifth inning off the bat of Michael Barron allowed Shorter to extend on their lead.
The Warriors answered in the bottom of the inning. Ethan Shimmel led off the inning with a five pitch walk. Shimmel advanced to second as Cole Kirschner hit a single into left field. As Kade Bowling ground out to the pitch, both Shimmel and Krischner advanced. Perry Dyer stepped up to the plate and drilled the ball over the center field fence for a three run home run to come to 6-5 behind the Hawks.
Shorter extended their lead further as they brought five runs in to score in the top of the sixth inning.
After a 45 minute rain delay, Southern Wesleyan brought one more run in to score. With two outs, Samuel Simonds walked. Ethan Jarvis came in to pinch run for Simonds and advanced to second as Matthew McCaffrey was hit by a pitch. Tristan Tillman hit a single into center field to bring Jarvis in to score. However, the Warriors fell to the Hawks in an 11-6 final score.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan was first on the board in game two. Nolan Evatt kicked off the first inning for the Warriors by hitting a single into left field. Evatt advanced to second as Perry Dyer hit a single into left field. Ethan Shimmel reached on a fielder's choice. However, an error on the play allowed Dyer to remain safe at second and brought Evatt in to score the Warriors first run of the game. Cole Kirschner followed by hitting a single to left field to allow Dyer to come across home plate.
The Warriors pressed on in the bottom of the second inning. Seth Pettett sent the ball into left field for a single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Matthew McCaffrey ground to first to allow Pettett to advance to third. With Pettett ninety feet from home, Nolan Evatt hit a single up the middle to bring Pettett in to score.
Reece Newberry got the Hawks on the board as he sent the ball over the fence for a two run home run in the top of the fourth.
After a rain delay, the game was called in the sixth inning and Southern Wesleyan walked away with a 3-2 run victory.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will await seeding for the Conference Carolinas tournament.
