Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan swept the Erskine Flying Fleet on Tuesday afternoon in 6-1 and 10-2 final scores.
The Warriors picked up six hits in the first game of the afternoon. Marissa Moreland and Abby Lawson each homered in the game and led the team with two RBIs apiece. Reagan Fulcher and Abby Schreiner each picked up doubles. Rebecca Lamb was the lone Warrior to walk, and both Sarah Woody and Madeleine Knop each stole bases. Olivia Haag pitched a complete game for the Warriors and struck out three batters.
Southern Wesleyan picked up 14 hits in the second game of the day. Megan Ware led the Warriors as she went 3 for 3 at the plate including picking up both a double and a triple. Chloe Smith doubled twice in the game and both Marissa Moreland and Reagan Fulcher doubled as well. The Warriors walked twice and Chalee Roper stole a base. Anicka McFarland pitched four innings and struck out four batters. Bailey Throckmorton pitched the final two innings of the game.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 6, Erskine 1
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 10, Erskine 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (26-11 / CC 14-4) Erskine (9-24 / CC 7-12)
How It Happened
Game One
Olivia Haag and Erin Redmond battled each other in the circle as they competed in a pitcher's duel until the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Warriors struck in the fifth inning as with two outs, Abby Lawson sent the ball over the center field fence for a solo home run.
Erskine answered in the top of the sixth as a double off the bat of Kennedy Crouch allowed Ava Rogers to come in to score to tie the game up.
Southern Wesleyan was not discouraged as they regained the lead in the sixth inning. Megan Ware led off as she reached first on an error at third. Marissa Moreland came up to the plate and sent the first pitch she saw over the center field fence for a two-run blast. With the bases cleared of Warriors, Reagan Fulcher doubled to right center field. Chalee Roper came in to pinch run for Fulcher and advanced to third on a wild pitch on ball four to Rebecca Lamb. Sarah Woody came in to pinch run for Lamb. As Woody stole second base, Roper stole home to extend the Warriors lead to 4-1. Gabby Smith then came in to run for Woody and came in to score as Abby Schreiner hit a double into center field. With Madeleine Knop pinch running for Schreiner and Abby Lawson up to bat, Knop took off and stole third base. Abby Lawson then hit a single to right field to allow Knop to cross home plate and give the Warriors a 6-1 run victory over the Flying Fleet in game one.
Game Two
Southern Wesleyan was first on the board in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Reagan Fulcher hit a double into left center field. Fulcher came in to score as Chloe Smith hit a double into left field.
The Warriors extended on their lead in the third inning. Megan Ware led off the inning by hitting a triple to right center field. Ware came in to score as Marissa Moreland hit a single to left field. Reagan Fulcher was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Olivia Haag then hit a single through the left side of the field to bring Moreland in to score to extend the Warriors lead to 3-0.
Southern Wesleyan was not down as they brought five more runs in to score in the fourth inning. Abby Schreiner hit the ball up the middle for a single to jump start the inning for the Warriors. Chalee Roper came in to pinch run for Schreiner and immediately stole second base. A single off the bat of Abby Lawson allowed Roper to advance to third base. With runners on the corners, Maddie Crouch hit a single through the left side of the field to bring Roper in to score and allow Lawson to advance to second base. A bunt single by Megan Ware loaded up the bases for Marissa Moreland. Morland hit the ball off the left field fence for a double that brought both Lawson and Crouch in to score and force the Flying Fleet to go to the bullpen. With the new pitcher in the circle and one out, Rebecca Lamb hit the ball up the middle for a single that cleared the bases to extend the Warriors lead to 8-0.
Erskine challenged in the top of the fifth inning as a single by Hannah Lewis brought two runs in to score to prevent the Warriors from winning by a run-rule.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Warriors struck once again. Megan Ware led off the inning by hitting a double into right center field. With two outs, Rebecca Lamb hit a single past the third baseman to allow Ware to come in to score. Chloe Smith came in to pinch hit and hit a double down the left field line to allow Lamb to advance to third. Olivia Haag walked to load up the bases for Abby Schreiner. Schreiner took a five pitch walk to allow the Warriors to claim the game in a 10-2 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will host the Ferrum Panthers on April 10 in a doubleheader beginning at 2pm. They will celebrate their senior class during the game. Southern Wesleyan will then travel to Young Harris, GA to take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions on April 11.
