Box Score 1 | Box Score 2


Due West, SC – After losing game one of a Conference Carolinas double header to Belmont Abbey, Erskine would score three runs in the bottom of the ninth in game two to win 7-6 Saturday afternoon.

Game One

Belmont Abbey (17-7-1, 4-6) would score three runs in the first three innings and cruise to a 10-0 victory.  Nate Cudney (5-1) threw a complete game shutout allowing just two hits and striking out six.  Michael Falsetti led the Crusaders at the plate going 3-4 with a double and RBI, while Kyle Buchanan was 2-3 with three runs driven in. 

Phillip Herring (Dillon, SC, Dillion HS) and Brandon Wooten (Taylors, SC, Blue Ridge HS) each had a hit for the Fleet.  Heath Gray (Greer, SC, Byrnes HS) (4-3) took the loss allowing three earned runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work.

Game Two

Erskine (17-9, 6-5) would take the lead in the bottom of the first when Drew Willingham (Greenwood, SC, Greenwood HS) would hit a two out solo home run.  The Crusaders would take the lead with three runs in the top of the fourth inning.  Ian Vazquez would lead off with a single and advance to third on a double by Ryan Allen.  Vazquez would score on a ground out by Anthony Dimino to tie the game at one.  Belmont Abbey would take the lead on RBI single by Falsetti and Buchanan.  In the bottom half of the inning, Willingham would single and then score on a double by Cody Spence (Belton, SC, Belton-Honea Path HS) to make it a 3-2 game. 

The Crusaders would answer with a run in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Vazquez to make it a two run game.  In the bottom half of the inning Zack Jones would hit a two out single and advance to second on a wild pitch.  He would then score on a single by Chase Corn (Travelers Rest, SC, Blue Ridge HS) to again cut the Belmont Abbey lead to one.  The Crusaders would score single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to make it a 6-3 game.  In the bottom of the eighth, Willingham would reach first on an error with one out.  Logan Galliher (Taylorsville, NC, Alexander Central HS) would then single and Spence was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Sam Cothran (Williamston, SC, Palmetto HS) would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Willingham and cut the deficit to two.  Belmont Abbey would get out of the inning setting the stage for a Fleet comeback. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Wooten would lead off with a solo home run to right field to cut the lead to one.  Connor Gibson (Greer, SC, Riverside High School) and Corn would both single and advance into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Herring.  The Crusaders would intentionally walk Willingham to load the bases.  Gibson would score on a wild pitch to tie the game at six.  Belmont Abbey would then intentionally walk Galliher to load the bases once again.  Spence would foul out to the catcher, leaving the bases loaded with two outs.  With Cothran at the plate, Corn would slide across home plate on the second wild pitch of the inning and giving Erskine the win.

Willingham led the Fleet at the plate going 2-3 with three runs scored and one RBI, while Corn and Wooten each had two hits.  Kit Carter (Duncan, SC, Byrnes HS) (5-0) picked up his second win in as many days allowing just one hit and striking out two in two innings of relief.