Anderson, SC – In both games, Erskine hit home runs in the last two innings to win both games against Anderson University in non-conference softball action at Smethers Field. With the two victories, Erskine climbs to 6-3-1 while Anderson University slips to 10-5-1 on the season.
In game one, Anderson got on the board in the first inning on a two-run blast by shortstop Abby Child. Erskine tied the game at 2-2 in the third inning on a two-run rbi single by Colleen Gardner (Matthews, NC, Butler High School). In the sixth, Anderson added their third run when Kinsley Durham drew a bases-loaded walk to score Amber Duncan who had led off the inning with a double. Down to their last out, Erskine’s Colleen Gardner stroked her second single of the game to keep the inning alive. Senior Lindsey LaPrad (Summerville, SC, Fort Dorchester HS) immediately followed with another base hit. With two on, sophomore Larissa Shannon (Newberry, SC, Newberry High School) hit her fourth home run of the season, a three-run blast, to give the Fleet a 5-3 lead. The Trojans rallied in the bottom half of the seventh to score one run but pitcher Kelsey Spurrier (Charlotte, NC, Butler High School) induced a fly ball to left to end the game 5-4. Spurrier threw a complete game and giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 9 hits. She struck out four and walked two in earning her third win of the season.
Game two started in similar fashion with Anderson scoring in the first inning. After being hit by a pitch, Danielle Swygert scored on an Erskine fielding error to give the Trojans the early 1-0 lead. Neither team seriously threatened to score through five innings as both pitchers kept the hitters off-balance. In the sixth, senior Lindsey LaPrad (Summerville, SC, Fort Dorchester HS) hit her second single of the game to get on. Two batters later, sophomore Morgan Purcell (Duncan, SC, Byrnes High School) launched her fourth home run of the season to give the Fleet a 2-1 lead. Heather Richey (Abbeville, SC, Abbeville High School) finished off the Trojans for the complete game victory. Richey tossed 7 innings surrendering just one unearned on five hits and one walk for her third victory of the season.
Erskine hosts Wingate University on Monday. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
