Due West, SC – The Flying Fleet held off a ninth inning Barton rally to take a 5-4 victory over the Bulldogs to open up the three game series Friday afternoon at Grier Field.
Barton (7-15, 0-5) would take advantage of a two out error by Erskine and score two runs on a double by Collins Cuthrell to go up 2-0 in the second. In the bottom of the third, Brian Laznik (Chardon, OH, Lakeland CC) would hit a two out single and Zach Smith (Lexington, SC, White Knoll HS) would follow up with a walk to put runners on first and second. John Bolding (Pickens, SC, Pickens HS) would then line a triple into the right center field gap to clear the bases and tie the game. The next inning with runners at first and third with two outs, Zach McCarthy (Spartanburg, SC, Byrnes HS) would steal second allowing Chase Corn (Travelers Rest, SC, Blue Ridge HS) to score from third on the throw to second and give Erskine (17-5, 3-4) a one run lead. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Will Huff (Sugar Hill, GA, North Gwinnett HS) would blast a solo home run to left center field and make it a two run game. McCarthy would follow with a bunt single and Phillip Herring (Dillion, SC, Dillion HS) would single to put runners at first and second. Laznik would draw a walk and then Smith would reach on an error by the shortstop allowing McCarthy to score and make it a 5-2 game.
It looked as if the Fleet had the game in hand with two outs in the ninth, but three straight errors by the Fleet would allow the Bulldogs to score two runs and cut the Erskine lead to 5-4. With the bases loaded, Erskine closer Atlee Pearson (Duncan, SC, Byrnes HS) would get Ryan Daughtry to ground out to end the game.
Bolding led the Fleet at the plate going 2-4 with a triple and two RBI’s while Laznik was 2-3 with a run scored. Andrew Guest (Easley, SC, Easley High School) (4-0) picked up the win allowing just two unearned runs on six hits and striking out two in 7.2 innings of work. Pearson picked up his third save of the season allowing two unearned runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of relief. With his 32nd career save, Atlee has now tied former Erskine closer Jake Williams as the NCAA Division II all time saves leader.
The two teams will conclude their series with a double header starting at 12:00 pm tomorrow.
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