Due West, SC – The Erskine Flying Fleet battled through the rain to score four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to erase a one run deficit and take a 9-6 victory over Saint Andrews to complete a three game Conference Carolinas series sweep.
The Knights would take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and would hold that lead through four innings. In the bottom of the fourth, John Bolding (Pickens, SC, Pickens HS) would lead off with a double down the left field line and then score on a ground out by Casey Winckowski (Oregon, OH) to tie the game at one. After back to back two out walks, Luke Danielewicz (Spartanburg, SC, Dorman High School) would hit a pinch hit single up the middle to score Chase Corn (Travelers Rest, SC, Blue Ridge HS) and give Erskine the lead 2-1. The Fleet would make it a 5-1 game in the fifth with RBI doubles from Bolding and Winckowski; and an RBI single by Corn.
Saint Andrews would answer in the top half of the sixth with five runs to regain the lead 6-5. Before the start of the seventh, a heavy rain fell and forced a delay of about 45 minutes. After the delay, Erskine would load the bases in the seventh with two outs, but were unable to get the tying run in. In the bottom of the eighth, Zach McCarthy (Spartanburg, SC, Byrnes HS) would lead off with a single to center field. Brandon Garrett (Woodruff, SC, Woodruff HS) would pinch run for McCarthy and promptly steal second and advance to third when throw to second went into the outfield. Brian Laznik (Chardon, OH) would then double to left center field to score Garrett and tie the game up at six. After an intentional walk to Zach Smith (Lexington, SC, White Knoll HS) to put runners at first and second, Bolding would line a ball past a diving right fielder for a triple and give Erskine the 8-6 lead. Bolding would then score on a wild pitch to make it a three run game. Kit Carter (Byrnes, SC, Byrnes HS) came into the game in the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning to record his first save of the season.
Bolding led the Fleet on offense going 3-4 with two doubles, a triple and three runs battedin, while Laznik was 3-4 with two doubles, a triple and one RBI. Tyler Jones (MCormick, SC, MCormick HS) (2-0) picked up the win allowing just two hits in 2.1 innings of relief.
With the win, Erskine improves to 21-11 overall and 7-8 in the conference.
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