Box Score Due West, SC – The Flying Fleet would score five runs in their final three at bats and held off a late Limestone rally to defeat the Saints 5-3 in the opening game of their final Conference Carolinas series.

A pitcher's duel between Erskine's (30-11, 14-4) Wes Schuler (Spartanburg, SC, USC Sumter) and Limestone's (21-24, 8-11) Jose Rondon would keep the game scoreless through the first five innings.  In the bottom of the sixth inning, Brandon Overstreet (Stuart, FL, Herkimer CC) would be hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and then advanced to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball.  He would then score on a sacrifice fly from Chase Corn (Travelers Rest, SC, Blue Ridge HS) to give the Fleet the lead.  In the seventh Hanlon Maivelett (Aiken, SC, Aiken HS) would hit a one out solo home run to left.  Joey Wilson (Charleston, SC, USC Sumter) would then single through the right side and steal second.  Tanner Lollis (Williamston, SC, Palmetto HS) would then single to left to score Wilson and give Erskine a 3-0 lead. 

In the top of the eighth Cooper Gunter would hit a two out single and then score on a double by Tyler Wood.  The Fleet would answer with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.  Corn would lead off with a single and steal second and third.  Richard Dix (Clemson, SC, Daniel HS) would then blast a two out home run to right field to put Erskine up 5-1.  Trailing 5-1 in the ninth, th Saints would score two runs to cut the lead to two, but Landon Dickerson (Williamston, SC, Palmetto High School) would come into the game and get a ground out to end the game.

Corn and Zach Smith (Lexington, SC, White Knoll HS) each had two hits to lead the Erskine offense and Dix drove in two.  Schuler (5-1) picked up the win allowing just one run on eight hits in eight innings of work and striking out three.  Dickerson (1) picked up his first career save recording the last out of the game.

The two teams will play a double header tomorrow starting at noon.