Box Score

Due West, SC – Erskine College defeated the 16^th ranked Braves of UNC Pembroke 9-3 Friday afternoon in the opening game of a non conference series.

In the bottom of the first inning, Connor Gibson (Greer, SC, Riverside High School) would hit a one out single and then steal second. He would then advance to third on a single by Drew Willingham (Greenwood, SC, Greenwood HS).  Logan Galliher (Taylorsville, NC, Alexander Central HS) would then hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Gibson and giving the Flying Fleet a 1-0 lead.  Gibson and Willingham would lead off the bottom of the third with back to back singles and then advance into scoring position on a deep fly out by Galliher.  Cody Spence (Belton, SC, Belton-Honea Path HS) would then single to score both runners and increase the lead to three.  Brandon Wooten (Taylors, SC, Blue Ridge HS) would then hit a home run down the left field line to give Erskine (24-19) a 5-0 lead. The Braves (24-11) would score an unearned run in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to four.  The Fleet would go on to score four runs in thir final three at bats to take the 9-3 victory.

Willingham led the Fleet at the plate going 3-4 with an RBI, while Gibson and Spence each added two hits.  Heath Gray (Greer, SC, Byrnes HS) (5-6) picked up the win allowing two earned runs on eight hits and striking out five in 7.1 innings of work.  Kit Carter (Duncan, SC, Byrnes HS) (5) picked up the save allowing just one hit and striking out two in 1.1 innings of work.