Due West, SC – Erskine College scored nine runs in the final three innings to take a dramatic 10-9 victory over Limestone Saturday in the first game of a Conference Carolinas double header. The 21st ranked Fleet would then complete the series sweep with a 4-1 victory in game two.

The Saints jumped on the Fleet in the first with a run scoring single from Drew Lydon, followed by a two run single from Tim Welch to make it a 3-0 lead. Erskine would cut the Limestone lead to 3-1 in the third inning, when Shawn Glover (Columbia, SC, Richland Northeast High School) led off with a single and then scored on a double off the left field fence by Bryan Fogle (Lexington, SC, Lexington High School). The Saints would add a run in the top half of the fourth on a RBI single from Michael Hughey to push their lead back to three runs. Limestone looked to have blown the game open when they scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning, with the big blow being a two run home run by Josh Troutman. Erskine would not go down with out a fight though heading into the final three innings.

In the seventh, Greg Huff (McDonough, GA, Henry County High School) would blast a solo home run to left field to start an Erskine rally. After a Casey Winckowski (Oregon, OH, Owens CC) double, Fogle would walk and they both would score on a single to right field by John Bolding (Pickens, SC, Pickens HS) to make it a 9-4 game. With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Matt Youngblood (Travelers Rest, SC, Blue Ridge CC) would single to ignite another Erskine rally. After back to back singles from Huff and Winckowski to load the bases, Fogle would be hit by a pitch to make it a 9-5 game. Bolding would once again step to the plate and deliver for the Fleet, blasting a grand slam over the left center field wall to tie the game at nine. Erskine reliever Atlee Pearson (Duncan, SC, Byrnes HS) would pitch his second straight 1-2-3 inning to set the Fleet up for the win. Youngblood would once again start the Erskine offence up with a one out single to right field, followed by a walk to Huff. With two outs, Fogle would walk to load the bases and bring Anthony up to the plate. He would drop a single into right field to score Youngblood and win the game.

Bolding would lead the Fleet attack, going 3-5 with a home run and a career high six RBIs, while Huff was 3-5 with a home run and Youngblood was 2-3 with two runs scored. Pearson picked up the win allowing two unearned runs in four innings of work and striking out a career high five batters.

Welch led the Saints at the plate going 3-4 with a double and two runs batted in, while Lydon was 2-5 with four RBIs. Cameron Culp took the loss allowing one run on two hits in one inning of work.

It would be Erskine who would strike first in the second game when Winckowski would score from second base on a Limestone error in the bottom of the first inning. The Saints would return the favor in third inning and take advantage of an Erskine error to tie the game at one. Chas Anthony (Pickens, SC, Pickens High School) would break the tie in the fourth with a solo home run, and the Fleet would add one run in each of the next two innings and ride an outstanding performance from William Buzhardt (Columbia, SC, Ben Lippen High School) to take the victory.

Bolding was the lone Erskine player with multiple hits going 2-3 with an RBI, while Anthony was 1-2 with a home run, two runs scored and a run batted in. Buzhardt picked up the win, allowing just one unearned run on one hit in seven innings and striking out seven.

Micah Robinson was the lone Saint with a hit, going 1-3 with a double and RBI. Matt Crisp took the loss allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits in six innings of work.

Erskine improves to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference, while Limestone falls to 2-6 and 0-3.

Game One Box

Game Two Box