Due West, SC – The 15th ranked Flying Fleet scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie and went on to a 6-2 victory over Newberry Wednesday afternoon in non conference baseball action.
Through the first three innings of the game both starting pitchers dominated, with just one combined hit and three strike outs and neither team getting a runner to second base. The Wolves would strike first in the top of the fourth when Kevin Rufus was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and would advance to third on an errant pickoff attempt. A two out single to left field by Chris Love would score Rufus and give Newberry the 1-0 lead. However, the Fleet would answer in the bottom of the inning. Casey Winckowski (Oregon, OH, Owens CC) would lead off with a single and then later score on an opposite field home run by John Bolding (Pickens, SC, Pickens HS) to put Erskine up2-1. After a scoreless fifth inning, Andy Vogel would double down the left field line and then score on a two out double by Love to tie the game.
Once again the Fleet offense would respond in the bottom half of the inning, when Winckowski led off the inning with a home run and Brian Laznik (Chardon, OH, Lakeland CC) followed with another solo blast to make it a 4-2 game. The Fleet would add two insurance runs in the eighth on an RBI triple by Zach Smith (Lexington, SC, White Knoll HS) and a sacrifice bunt by Zach McCarthy (Spartanburg, SC, Byrnes HS).
Freshman Chase Corn (Travelers Rest, SC, Blue Ridge HS) took a tough luck no decision in his first college start allowing just one earned run on four hits in five and two-thirds innings and striking out seven. Andrew Guest (Easley, SC, Easley High School) (2-0) picked up the win pitching two-thirds of an inning in relief. Winckowski led the Erskine offense going 2-3 with a home run and two runs scored, while Smith was 3-4 with a triple and RBI.
Mario Rojas (1-2) took the loss allowing four runs on seven hits in five and two-thirds innings of work. Love led the Wolves at the plate going2-4 with a double and two runs driven in, while Vogel, Jovan Rohena, and Zach Morgan each had a hit.
With the win, Erskine improves to 11-0 on the season while Newberry falls to 8-7.
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