Due West, SC---14th ranked Erskine College scored eight runs on 11 hits and held off a late Pfeiffer rally to take an 8-3 victory over the Falcons in the opening game of the Conference Carolinas series Friday afternoon.

The Fleet took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Brandon Garrett scored on an RBI single from Dereck King, Erskine added another run in the third on an RBI single from Matt Schneider. The Fleet added a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take a 5-0 lead, but Pfeiffer would cut the lead to 5-1 in the seventh when Zack Pou tripled and then scored on a ground out by Kyle MaGarity. The Falcons would make it a three run game in the eighth when Bryan Braxton scored on a single from Shawn Coke. The Fleet would answer back in the bottom of the eighth with three runs on an RBI single from Keith Hill and a two run double from Greg Huff to make it an 8-2 game. Pfieffer would add a run in the ninth, but the Fleet shut down the rally to take the 8-3 victory.

The Fleet were led at the plate by Hill who was 2-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while King was 2-3 with an RBI and Bryan Fogle was 2-4. William Buzhardt picked up his sixth win of the year allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings of work and Atlee Pearson picked up his sixth save allowing two runs in two innings of relief.

For Pfeiffer, Kevin Oquendo was 2-4 for Pfeiffer and Will Davis was 2-5. Coke and McGarity both had a hit and RBI apiece. Nick Fogleman took the loss for the Falcons allowing five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Erskine improves to 36-5 overall and 16-4 in the conference, while Pfeiffer falls to 21-25 and 7-15. The two teams will finish up their series tomorrow with a double header starting at 12:00 pm.

Box Score