Due West, SC – Three Flying Fleet pitchers held the eighth ranked Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic to just two hits to help lead Erskine to a 5-1 victory in non conference baseball action at Grier Field.

In the bottom of the first, Brian Laznik (Chardon, OH,Lakelands CC) would reach third base on an error to lead off the inning and then score on a single by John Bolding (Pickens, SC, Pickens HS). After a double by Drew Willingham (Hodges, SC, Greenwood HS) put runners on second and third, Bolding would score on a sacrifice fly by Casey Winckowski (Oregon, OH, Owens CC) to make it a 2-0 game.  The Fleet would add a run in the second on a RBI double by Phillip Herring (Dillion, SC, Dillion HS) and then another run in the third on an RBI single by Winckowski to give the Fleet a 4-0 lead. 

In the top of the fifth, the Pirates would take advantage of three walks and cut the Fleet lead to three as Lawrence Jackson scored when Chris Zittrouer was picked off at first.  Herring would blast a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to give Erskine their final run.

Herring led the Fleet at the plate going 2-2 with a double, home run and two RBI’s, while Willingham was 2-4 with two doubles and a run scored.  Chase Corn (Travelers Rest, SC, Blue Ridge HS) (1-1) picked up the win allowing just one run on two hits and striking out a career high nine batters in seven innings of work.

Zittrouer had a double and Michael Price had a single for Armstrong Atlantic on offense.  Trent Landa (2-3) took the loss allowing two earned runs in seven hits and striking out eight in eight innings of work.

With the win, Erskine improves to 22-11 on the season while the Pirates fall to 25-5.

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