Due West, SC – The Flying Fleet scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in game two to erase a one run deficit and take a 4-3 victory over Saint Andrews and complete a double header sweep of the Knights.
Game One
Both pitchers dominated the first part of the game, with just one hit between the two teams through the first four innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Casey Winckowski (Oregon, OH, Owens CC) would lead off with a walk and then steal second base. With one out, Will Huff (Sugar Hill, GA, North Gwinnett HS) would single to left field, but Winckowski would be thrown out at the plate to keep the Fleet off the board. Huff would advance to second on the throw home and then score on a double down the right field line by Zach McCarthy (Spartanburg, SC, Byrnes HS) to give Erskine the lead. The Fleet would add three more runs in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead and then hold on for the victory.
McCarthy was 1-2 with a double and RBI to lead the Fleet offense, while John Bolding (Pickens, SC, Pickens HS) was 1-3. Zach McAllister (Simpsonville, SC, Hillcrest HS) (3-1) picked up the win allowing just one hit in six innings of work while striking out five.
Game Two
The Knights would get on the board early with two runs in the top of the first. In the bottom of the second, Huff would triple to right centerfield with two outs and then score on a wild pitch to cut the St. Andrews lead in half. The Knights would add a run in the third to push their lead back to two runs. The Fleet would make it a one run game in the bottom of the fifth. Phillip Herring (Dillion, SC, Dillion HS) would reach on an error and then later score on a sacrifice fly by Bolding. The score would remain 3-2 until the bottom of the seventh inning. After the first two batters were retired for Erskine, Brian Laznik (Chardon, OH, Lakeland CC) would double to right centerfield to keep the Fleet alive. He would then score on a single by Zach Smith (Lexington, SC, White Knoll HS) to tie the game up. Bolding would follow with a single to right field allowing Smith to advance to third base. With the winning run at third base and two outs, Drew Willingham (Hodges, SC, Greenwood HS) would lay down a bunt single down the third base line driving in the winning run for the Fleet.
Smith led the Fleet at the plate going 2-4 with a run batted in and a run scored, while Bolding was 2-3 with an RBI. Atlee Pearson (Duncan, SC, Byrnes HS) took a tough luck no decision in his first start of the season, allowing just two earned runs in seven hits and striking out 10 hitters in six innings of work. Kit Carter (Byrnes, SC, Byrnes HS) (1-1) picked up the with one inning of relief work.
With the wins, Erskine improves to 20-11 overall and 6-8 in the conference, while Saint Andrews falls to 8-24 and 2-12. The two teams will conclude their series tomorrow with a single game starting at 8:00 am due to the incoming rain in the area.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
