Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Newberry, S.C. – The Erskine Flying Fleet lost two games, 3-2 and 6-4, to local rival Newberry College this afternoon in non-conference softball action at the Smith Road Complex.  The Red Wolves scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win game one 3 to 2 and held off the Flying Fleet to win the nightcap 6 to 4.
 
Game One
 
After back-to-back singles to lead off the seventh inning, Newberry's Gabby Bedard laced a triple into the right field gap to score two runs for the win.  Erskine pitcher Kaylin White (Columbia, SC, White Knoll High School) took the loss.
 
Erskine'sDanica Newton (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Wando High School) started the game and went six strong innings.  After surrendering an unearned run in the first, the sophomore right-hander tossed five shutout innings, holding the Wolves to just four hits.
 
The Fleet scored their two runs in the fifth inning.  With two on and two outs, freshman Brittany Reynolds (Seneca, SC) stroked a single into left-center to score Brittany Rhinehardt (Clover, SC) and Kathryn Windham (Manning, SC, Lawrence Manning Academy). 
 
Freshman Chandler Crawford (Williamston, SC) gave the Fleet a chance to add another run in the sixth with a one-out double.  Newberry pitcher Madison Burnett retired the next two Fleet batters, stranding Crawford at second.  Burnett went the distance, giving up the two runs on three hits.  She struck out eight and walked one in earning her sixth victory of the season.
 
Game Two
 
Erskine led 4 to 2 through the first four innings.  With two on and two outs in the third inning, the Fleet strung together three straight singles for three runs.  Freshman Sydney Smith (Seneca, SC) hit a two-run single and Crawford followed with another rbi single to drive Newberry pitcher Maude McCourry from the game.  She lasted three innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three and walking one.
 
The next inning senior Ericka McCarson (Travelers Rest, SC, Travelers Rest High School) scored on Brittany Rhinehardt's grounder to put the Fleet up 4 to 2.
 
In the fifth inning, Newberry got to Erskine starting pitcher Candace Fitch (Cherryville, NC, Burns High School) for four runs to retake the lead 6 to 4.  Newberry's Jeri Loffler provided the big hit, a two-run home run, to tie the game at 4 to 4.  Lanier Paul added a two-run single for the go-ahead and insurance run.
 
The Fleet had runners in scoring position the last two innings but failed to push a run across the plate.  In the sixth, McCarson singled with one out and freshman Brenna Warren (Greenville, SC) followed with walk to put two on.  Newberry's second pitcher Brittany Middleton retired the next two batters to maintain the two run lead for the Wolves.  Middleton picked up the win in relief, going three innings, surrendering one run on three hits.

In the seventh, the Fleet loaded the bases with two outs but Newberry's third pitcher Hannah Blakely got McCarson to ground out to the second for the final out to earn her first save on the year.
 
Erskine hosts non-conference foe Flager University this Saturday in a doubleheader.  The first game starts at 1:00 p.m.