Due West, SC – William Buzhardt (Columbia, SC, Ben Lippen High School)struck out a career high 13 batters to help the 28th ranked Flying Fleet to a 9-2 victory over Belmont Abbey in the opening game of the Conference Carolinas series. The game was called in the seventh inning due to rain and lightning.

The Crusaders took the in the top of the first inning, when Roland Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and then Roberto Sanchez hit a home run to put Belmont Abbey up 2-0. Erskine would cut the lead to one in the bottom of the second when Drew Willingham (Greenwood, SC, Greenwood HS) singled and later scored when Brandon Garrett (Woodruff, SC, Woodruff HS) reached on a fielder’s choice. The Fleet would take the lead the very next inning with five runs. Bryan Fogle (Lexington, SC, Lexington High School) would draw a two out walk and then John Bolding (Pickens, SC, Pickens HS) would blast his sixth home run of the season just inside of the left field foul pole to give Erskine a 3-2 lead. The Fleet would add three more runs that inning to make it a 6-2 game. Erskine would finish the scoring in the seventh with a two run double by Mo Seay (Anderson, SC, Wofford College) and a run scoring single from Garrett to push the lead to 9-2. After Garrett’s single the game was called due to lightning in the area and heavy rain that followed.

Garrett led the Fleet at the plate going 2-4 with a double and three runs driven in, while Bolding was 2-4 with a home run and two RBI’s and Mo Seay was 2-4 with a double and two runs driven in. Buzhardt (6-1) picked up the win in dominating fashion, striking out 13 hitters in seven innings allowing just two runs on four hits.

Daniel Torrente was the lone Crusader with two hits, while Sanchez drove in the only two runs. Tyler Powell (2-3) took the loss allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 13 hits in 6.2 innings of work and striking out three.

With the win, Erskine improves to 19-5 overall and 7-2 in the conference, while Belmont Abbey falls to 10-10 and 8-4. The two teams will play a double header tomorrow beginning at 12:00 pm.

Box Score