Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Due West, S.C. – The Erskine Flying Fleet (7-13, 1-3) dropped a doubleheader 5 to 1 and 6 to 5 in 8 innings against in-state conference foe North Greenville University Crusaders (12-8, 4-2) this afternoon at Ashmore Field.
Game One Despite being almost even in hits at 7 to 6, the Crusaders took advantage of three walks by Erskine starting pitcher
Danica Newton (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Wando High School) to score five runs on seven hits. All three free passes came around to score for North Greenville.
After lead-off walk in the second, North Greenville's Morgan Roach laced a RBI single to left to give the NGU an early 1 to 0 lead.
NGU tacked on two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Jordan Farmer launched a solo shot to lead off the inning then the Crusaders took advantage of Newton's second walk to score a second run.
In the fifth inning, Shayna Finley drew a one-out walk and scored on Sarah Armstrong's double, who later scored on teammate Cassi Carpenter's base hit.
Meanwhile Erskine had runners on base in five of the seven innings but only pushed one run across the plate. In the seventh inning,
Sydney Smith (Seneca, SC) singled home
Brooke Rhinehardt (Clover, SC) for the Fleet's lone run.
NGU's Carpenter pitched a complete game, scattering six hits and surrendering just one run. She struck out six while walking just one.
Newton took the loss for the Fleet, allowing five runs on six hits. Newton struck out four and walked three.
Game Two Defensive miscues cost the Fleet a victory in game two. After taking a 5 to 3 lead in the fifth inning, Erskine committed back-to-back fielding errors in the bottom half of the inning resulting in two unearned runs for the Crusaders. The Crusaders scored the game-winner off Farmer's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
After two innings, NGU led 3 to 2. Finley hit a solo home run in the first then singled home Armstrong in the second. Armstrong had just doubled home Christie Reilly who had just hit a double to right-center.
The Fleet scored their two runs in the top of the second off a 2-run double by
Kathryn Windham (Manning, SC, Lawrence Manning Academy).
Ericka McCarson (Travelers Rest, SC, Travelers Rest High School) led off the inning with a single and after back-to-back walks to
Gabby Keisler (Gilbert, SC) and
Jill Sprague (Charlotte, NC) to load the bases, Windham crushed a double over the left fielder's head.
The Fleet scored three runs in the fifth off NGU starting pitcher Sarah Armstrong. After Windham drew a lead-off walk, the Fleet strung together five straight hits to score three runs and drive Armstrong from the game.
NGU tied the game with two unearned runs in their half of the fifth inning, scoring both runs with two outs. With runners on first and second, Erskine pitcher
Kaylin White (Columbia, SC, White Knoll High School) induced two ground balls that the Fleet misplayed for two runs.
Playing international tie-breaker rules where a runner starts at second base to start the inning, NGU scored the game-winner on a sacrifice fly by Farmer to center field.
Erskine's Danica Newton took the loss, pitching 1.1 innings in relief.
NGU's Anna Rogers picked up the win in relief. Rogers tossed four shutout innings, striking out four without walking a batter.
Erskine hosts Lees-McRae College for two games this Saturday. The first game starts at 1:00 p.m.
