Gaffney, SC – The Erskine softball team split a doubleheader yesterday against conference-leading Limestone College at Lady Saints Field. The Fleet won the first game 11 to 1 but fell 3 to 1 in the nightcap. With the split, the Flying Fleet move to 16-19-1 overall and 8-4 in Conference Carolinas while the Lady Saints now stand at 30-17 overall and 12-2 in Conference Carolinas.
The Fleet got on the board first in the top of the second when Courtney Davis hit a solo shot for her 18th home run of the season. Freshman Larissa Shannon added another run on her 8th home run of the season two batters later. The Fleet blew the game wide open in the top of the seventh scoring nine runs, three earned, on three Lady Saints’ errors. Meanwhile, pitcher Heather Richey pitched a masterful game. Through the first six innings, the freshman hurler from Abbeville, South Carolina, had pitched a perfect game. In the bottom of the seventh, Lady Saints Jenna Guse broke up the perfect game with a bunt single. She later scored on Jordan Smith’s double. Richey pitched seven innings, surrendered just two hits, one run while striking out five in earning her fifth win of the season. Courtney Davis added another hit to finish 2 for 3 and Kelly Davis and Kerry Fincher both had two hits as well.
The Fleet missed several scoring opportunities in the second contest losing 3 to 1. The Lady Saints got the board first in the bottom of the second when Kelsey Kuykendall scored on a wild pitch. The Lady Saints got another run the next inning when Chelsea Anthony hit a solo shot off Erskine pitcher Kelsey Spurrier. The Fleet cut the lead back to one in the top of the fourth when freshman Bailey Thornton hit a solo home run, her 3rd of the season. Unfortunately the Fleet gave the run right back in the bottom half of inning on a fielding miscue. The Fleet had the bases-loaded three times in the contest but could not get a key hit. Lady Saints’ Leah Quant got the win, her 15th victory of the year. She pitched a complete game, yielding one run on eight hits while striking out six and walking two. Kelsey Spurrier (7-5) took the loss, pitching seven innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits and striking out five. She did not issue a walk. Bailey Thornton added another hit and finished 2 for 2 on the day while Lindsey LaPrad also had two hits on four at-bats.
The Fleet return home on Saturday to face Mount Olive College starting at 1:00 p.m.
