CENTRAL, S.C. - - Tanner Glass' walk off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two completed the second comeback of the day for Southern Wesleyan as the Warriors claimed 6-3 and 4-3 wins over visiting UVa-Wise Friday afternoon.
Southern Wesleyan (5-4) lined 12 hits and used a three-run fourth inning to break a 3-3 tie en route to the 6-3 triumph in the opener.
In the pivotal inning, Bryson Fowler was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before a one out single off the bat of Ty King Richards put runners on first and second. The Warriors loaded the bases on a base hit by Timo Schau before Jarred Jones' two-run single gave the hosts a lead they would not relinquish. The third run of the frame came when a passed ball allowed Schau to scamper home.
UVa-Wise (0-5) would get just two base runners over the final three innings as Aaron Bennet fired a complete game seven hitter. The right-hander fanned nine while allowing two walks to run his record to 2-0 on the year.
The Cavaliers built an early 2-0 lead off an RBI single by senior David Thomas and a successful squeeze bunt from junior Matthew Branham in the second inning.
The lead was short lived as Southern Wesleyan responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Devin Patrick laced an RBI double for his team's first run of the afternoon before Richards tied the game on a run-scoring hit.
The Warriors took their first lead of the day on Julio Justo's RBI double down the left field line in the third inning before the Cavs tied the game on back-to-back hits from Tristan Peccerelli and Thomas.
UVa-Wise relievers Ethan Fletcher and Dylan Luttrell combined to fire 2 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. The duo surrendered just two hits out of the bullpen.
Thomas and Tyler Blaum had two hits each to lead a seven-hit effort for the Cavs.
As was the case in game one, UVa-Wise built an early lead. Redshirt senior Brett Yates reached to leadoff the game thanks to an error by Southern Wesleyan. A batter latter, Blaum walked and the pair would each score as Wurtz and Peccerelli would each have an RBI.
The score would remain unchanged until the fourth inning when redshirt freshman Bret Roberts lined the first hit of his collegiate career to score Jordon Turner giving the visitors a three run cushion.
After dominating the Warriors for the first three frames, right-hander Greg Duncan would surrender three runs in the fourth inning.
After back-to-back singles by Justo and Glass, Quinton Bent doubled home both men to cut the deficit to 3-2. Bent would tie the game when he came home on a run-scoring hit by Bryson Fowler.
Southern Wesleyan would flirt with taking the lead in the home sixth but reliever Jake Osburn would work out of a bases loaded jam to keep the game tied.
In the seventh, the Warriors would get a one-out walk from Jarred Jones. Justo would then lace a double to centerfield and Jones would attempt to score on the play only to see the Cavs execute a relay play to the plate perfectly as Yates would fire a bullet to catcher Cal Bailey to record the second out of the inning.
Following a balk, Glass ended the game with his game-winning hit to left field allowing pinch runner Nolan Steevens to score to complete the sweep.
Jackson Fischer earned the mound win in relief. The junior fired 3 2/3 innings of hitless baseball while striking out four and walking just one to pick up his first win of 2019.
The Cavs were limited to just four hits in the game two loss; the series concludes with a single nine inning game Saturday at 12 p.m.
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