Due West, SC – The 21st ranked Flying Fleet used a seven run fifth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and held on for a 9-4 victory over visiting Limestone in the opening game of the Conference Carolinas series Friday afternoon.

Limestone took the early lead in the top of the second inning on a two run home run by Josh Troutman. Chas Anthony (Pickens, SC, Pickens High School) would cut the Saint lead to 2-1 in the bottom half of the inning with a lead off blast over the left field fence. In the bottom of the fifth, Brian Laznik (Chardon, OH, Lakeland CC) would lead off with a single, then later advance to third on an error by the Saint third baseman and then score on an errant pick off by the pitcher to tie the game. Casey Winckowski (Oregon, OH, Owens CC) would break the tie with a single to center field that would score Matt Youngblood (Travelers Rest, SC, Blue Ridge CC). After a pitching change for the Saints, John Bolding (Pickens, SC, Pickens HS) would double to left center to drive in two run and make it a 6-2 game. The Fleet would add two more runs on a sacrifice fly by Drew Willingham (Greenwood, SC, Greenwood HS) and a RBI single by Luke Danielewicz (Spartanburg, SC, Dorman High School) to make the score 8-2.

In the top of the eighth, Drew Lydon led off with a walk and then scored on a triple from Tim Welch. With a runner at third and no outs, Erskine starter Russell Reid (Hudson, NC, South Caldwell HS) would field a ground ball and throw Welch out at the plate at then retire the next two batters to end the Saint rally. After a solo home run by Zach McCarthy (Spartanburg, SC, Byrnes HS) in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 9-3 game, the Saints would once again try to rally in their last at bat. Troutman would lead off the inning with a double to left center field. After a strike out by Reid, Erskine would bring in Phillip Herring (Dillion, SC, Dillion HS) who would give up a double to David Christy that would score Troutman. Herring would walk the next Saint batter, but would retire the next two hitters to close the game out.

Anthony once again led the Fleet offense going 2-3 with a home run and run batted in, while Bolding was 1-4 with a double and two RBIs. Reid picked up his second win of the season allowing four runs in 8.1 innings of work and striking out five.

Troutman led the Saints attack going 2-4 with a home run, double and two RBIs while Welch was 3-5 with a triple and run driven in. Brock White took the loss allowing seven runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings of work.

The two teams will resume their series with a double header tomorrow starting at 12:00.

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