Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Due West, S.C. – After winning the first game 2-0, Erskine's Gabby Keisler (Gilbert, SC) crushed a grand slam to send the Flying Fleet (4-4) to a sweep of the Carson-Newman Eagles (4-2) 2-0 and 5-4 this afternoon for the first time in over seven years in non-conference softball action at the Erskine College Softball Complex. 

Game One

Erskine pitcher Danica Newton (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Wando High School) outdueled Carson-Newman pitcher Danielle Kranz for her first victory of the season.  Newton scattered six hits over seven innings to earn the shutout while Kranz fell victim to three fielding errors that resulted in two unearned runs for Fleet.

Twice the Eagles threatened to score on Newton but each time the sophomore hurler got out of trouble.  In the third inning, the Eagles had two runners on with one out but Newton retired the next two batters. The Eagles loaded the bases with two outs on three base hits in the fourth.  After surrendering the third hit, Newton struck out the next batter to squash the rally. 

The Fleet bats caught a break in the fourth when Carson-Newman committed three fielding errors to allow the game's only runs to score.  After surrendering a base hit to Lydia Trexler (Lexington, SC, White Knoll High School), Kranz induced the next three batters to hit two ground balls and a pop up but each was misplayed resulting in the two Fleet runs.  Kranz went the distance, allowing two unearned runs on three hits, striking out ten and issuing three walks in earning the loss.

Game Two

Erskine got a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, to win the nightcap 5 to 4 and complete the sweep of Carson-Newman.

Freshman Brittany Reynolds (Seneca, SC) led off the bottom of the first with her first collegiate home run, a solo shot to left field, to give Erskine an early 1-0 lead in the contest.  Carson-Newman pitcher Lindsey Dean settled down, holding the Fleet scoreless and to just one hit through five innings.

Carson-Newman batters got to Erskine starting pitcher Karen Hawkins (Belton, SC) in the third inning for two runs.  Hawkins gave up three hits, including a two-run double to Cassie Lyons, to the first four batters in the inning.  Hawkins limited the damage by retiring the next two batters to escape the inning.

In the fourth, Carson-Newman struck for two more runs.  Brooke Ramsey led off the inning with a solo blast and Bre Lockett came around to score on two Fleet fielding miscues.

Trailing 4 to 1, Erskine's Gabby Keisler crushed her first collegiate home run, a grand slam, in the bottom of the six to give the Fleet the 5 to 4 lead. 

Kaylin White (Columbia, SC, White Knoll High School) came on to pitch the seventh to earn her first save of the season.  Sophomore Candace Fitch (Cherryville, NC, Burns High School) picked up the win in relief, pitching two shutout innings for her second win of the year.

Erskine travels to Young Harris College next Thursday for a doubleheader.  The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Tuesday but has been pushed back due to the impending inclement entering the region.