CENTRAL, S.C. – The Southern Wesleyan University Baseball Team (1-0) defeated Emory & Henry College (0-1) Friday evening in what was the season-opening game for both squads. The Warriors earned the win by a 4-3 scoreline.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Southern Wesleyan 4, Emory & Henry 3
LOCATION – Central, South Carolina
VENUE – Dr. C. Keith Connor Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (0-1, 0-0 SAC); Southern Wesleyan (1-0, 0-0 Carolinas)
How It Happened
Both teams were held scoreless in the first inning but the Warriors struck first in the home half of the second. Southern Wesleyan utilized a pair of singles, an E&H error and a passed ball to push across three unearned runs for the early 3-0 lead.
The starting pitching for both teams locked in through the middle innings and the score remained the same at the end of the sixth. The Wasps got one run back in the top of the seventh. Junior Cole Cunningham (Wake Forest, N.C.) led off the inning with a single but was retired on a fielder's choice. Junior first baseman McCray Sawyers (Stuart, Va.) followed up with a single to put a runner in scoring position and senior catcher Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) reached on an error to push the first run across and trim the deficit to 3-1. SWU answered in the bottom half on another Wasp error to increase the margin back to three at 4-1.
Emory & Henry senior Noah Mazza (Plainfield, Ill.) singled, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch to lead off the top of the eighth. Senior outfielder Tyler Bradley (Bessemer City, N.C.) drew a walk then stole his second base of the night while Mazza read the throw from the catcher and scampered home to cut into the SWU lead. Junior outfielder Wayne Mize (Salisbury, N.C.) then drilled a single through the middle of the diamond to drive in Bradley and make it a 4-3 game.
Sawyers led off the top of the ninth after a scoreless home eight with a laced double down the left field line to put the Wasps in business. Sophomore Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.) pinch ran and advanced as far as third, but was stranded there and the Warriors escaped with the 4-3 win.
Steven Murfareh earned the win for Southern Wesleyan as he threw five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Junior Jack Swarbrick (Haverhill, Mass.) was the tough-luck loser on the evening as he went six strong innings, allowing only four hits and three unearned runs. Senior Zach Clover (Cary, N.C.) contributed two innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Up Next
Emory & Henry wraps up its three-game set against Southern Wesleyan with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for noon.
—E&H—