Due West, SC---26th ranked Erskine scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly from John Bolding to take a 7-6 victory over Limestone in the opener of their Conference Carolinas baseball series opener Friday afternoon.
With the win Erskine improves to 17-0 overall and 7-0 in the conference, while Limestone falls to 10-8 and 4-3.
Limestone took a 1-0 lead in the second when Justin Moore scored on a ground out by Kyle Brewer. The Fleet would go ahead in the bottom of the inning on back to back bases loaded walks to Bryan Folge and Chas Anthony. The lead would not last long as the Saints would answer with two runs in the third inning capped off by a solo home run from Adam McSwain.
The two teams would battle back and forth through out the game, with neither team getting ahead by more than one run. The Fleet looked to take the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh when Anthony hit a lead off home run to center field and Bolding scored on a sacrifice fly from Matt Wurzer to give Erskine a 6-5 advantage. Limestone would tie the game up the very next inning on back to back two out triples form Zach Watkins and Phillip Soden.
Erskine would not be able to answer the Saint rally in the bottom of the eighth, and Limestone would go scoreless in the ninth setting the scene for some last inning heroics. With one out, Anthony would walk and then advance to third on a single from Matt Schneider bringing Bolding to the plate. After a pitching change by the Saints, Bolding lifted a fly ball to right field that allowed Anthony to score the winning run.
Limestone was led at the plate by Soden who was 4-5 with a double, triple and two runs batted in and McSwain who was 2-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Brock White took the loss for the Saints allowing one run in two innings of work out of the bull pen.
Erskine was led on offense by Anthony, who was the only hitter with multiple hits going 2-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Fogle and Bolding also added a hit and drove in a run each for the Fleet. Atlee Pearson picked up his third victory of the season allowing one run in three innings of relief work and striking out four.
The two teams will conclude their series tomorrow with a double header starting at 12:00 pm.
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