Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Due West, S.C. – On opening day the Erskine Flying Fleet (0-2) were swept by powerhouse Wingate University (4-0), losing 6 to 1 and 10 to 3 this afternoon in non-conference softball action at the Erskine College Softball Complex.
 
Despite the final scores, the outcomes of both games were not decided into later innings.
 
Game One
 
After surrendering two runs in the first inning, one coming off an Erskine fielding miscue, the Fleet trailed just 2 to 1 heading into the sixth inning.  In the top of the sixth, Wingate capitalized on three Erskine fielding miscues to score four runs.
 
Freshman Chandler Crawford (Williamston, SC) led the Fleet at the plate, hitting two doubles in her first two collegiate at-bats.  After doubling in her first at-bat, Crawford moved to third on Brittany Rhinehardt's base hit.  Crawford scored on wild pitch from Stacey Houser.  For Houser, that one pitch would be her only blemish as she would go the distance to earn the victory.
 
Christine Long (Greer, SC, Greer High School) and Lydia Trexler (Lexington, SC, White Knoll High School) also had a hit for the Fleet.
 
Sophomore pitcher Danica Newton (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Wando High School) pitched well in the loss.  She allowed the six runs, only two earned, on six hits over six innings.
 
Game Two
 
In the nightcap, Erskine was again trailing just 2 to 1 when Wingate's hitters exploded for 8 runs off three home runs.  Sophomore pitcher Candace Fitch (Cherryville, NC, Burns High School) had allowed two runs, one earned, through the first four innings before giving up the three home runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
 
Freshman Sydney Smith (Seneca, SC) drove in all three Fleet runs.  In the first inning, Smith singled home Brittany Reynolds (Seneca, SC) who had led off with a single and stole second base.  In the sixth inning, Smith turned on an offering from Houser, depositing it over the left field wall for her first collegiate home run. 
 
Mia Blochviak (Taylorsville, NC) and Brittany Rhinehardt (Clover, SC) also had base hits for the Fleet.
 
Wingate's Misty Doran picked up the win while Houser, who entered the game due to injury to teammate Miranda Paul, earned her second save of the season.
 
Erskine will look to pick up their first win this Saturday against Chowan University.  The first game starts at 1:00 p.m. with the second game beginning 20 minutes after the completion of the first game.