Due West, SC – The Erskine softball team split a twin bill with Lander University dropping the first game 7 to 6 but bouncing back to win the second game 7 to 2.  After today’s games, Erskine’s record now stands at 3-2 on the young season.

In the first game, Erskine jumped out quickly in the 1^st inning.  The lead off hitter, Kelly Davis, singled, promptly stole 2^nd base and scored on Lindsey LaPrad’s RBI single.  Senior Courtney Davis followed with a towering two-run home run over the left field fence to give Erskine a 3 to 0 lead.  Erskine made it a four run lead in the second inning when Lander’s 2^nd baseman misplayed a ground ball hit by Kayla Vinson allowing Kristy Fincher to score.  Meanwhile, Lander missed an excellent scoring opportunity in the top of the third.  With bases loaded and no outs, Lander only scored one run off of Lauren Gunter, who managed to secure three consecutive ground balls to limit the damage.  Erskine got that run back in the bottom of the fourth when catcher Larissa Shannon smashed a double to the wall and scored on a double-steal with teammate Kelly Davis.  Erskine’s defense let the game slip away in the fifth inning, giving up six runs (five unearned) behind two errors.  Erskine made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh by scoring one run and Jocelyn Smith narrowly missed a walk-off home run as it landed a foot or so foul just over the left field fence.  Lander’s Shelbey Spencer picked up the win in relief of Hayley Leissner while Erskine’s Krissy Kendrick was handed her first loss of the season.

The Fleet bounced back to win the second game 7 to 2.  Kelsey Spurrier pitched a complete game for her second win while offensively Bailey Thornton and Courtney Davis each hit two-run home runs.  Pitcher Kelsey Spurrier dominated the Lander lineup with twelve strikouts, including striking out the side in the seventh inning.  Having pitched the last two innings of the first game, Kelsey Spurrier finished the day tossing 9.2 innings, surrendering only four hits, one earned run while striking out seventeen batters with just one walk.