Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Due West, S.C. – Senior
Ericka McCarson (Travelers Rest, SC, Travelers Rest High School) cleared the bases with a double to propel the Erskine Flying Fleet (16-20, 8-6) to a 7 to 4 win in the nightcap and a sweep of King University Tornado (15-21, 9-7) in today's Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader at the Erskine College Softball Complex. Erskine won game one 2 to 1 behind a strong pitching performance from sophomore
Danica Newton (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Wando High School).
Game One
Newton allowed one unearned run on four hits in earning her fifth win of the season. Newton was perfect through the first three innings. In the fourth inning with one out, King's Amanda Sports singled to left to break up the no-hitter. King pushed their lone run across the plate in the fifth off an Erskine fielding miscue.
King's pitcher Morgan Lowe was nearly as impressive, allowing two runs on six hits through six innings. Erskine scored their two runs in the third inning, stringing three singles around a walk to plate their two runs. Lowe limited the damage by inducing a double play.
McCarson and
Brittany Reynolds (Seneca, SC, Seneca High School) led the Fleet offensively with two hits each.
Game Two
Erskine scored six runs in the sixth inning and
Candace Fitch (Cherryville, NC, Burns High School) pitched the seventh for her first save of the year. McCarson delivered the big blow, a double to right-center that cleared the bases and gave Erskine the lead at 5 to 4. Erskine tacked on two more runs, one unearned, to take a 7 to 4 lead.
Fitch nearly retired the side in the seventh but McCarson could not grip the ball after making a sensational diving catch to her left at third base. The second game was played in continuous drizzle making the playing conditions less than ideal. Fitch struck out the next batter to earn the save.
Despite outhitting the Tornado 9 to 5, Erskine trailed 4 to 1 entering the sixth inning. The Tornado made the most of their five hits, the first four hits going for extra bases including back-to-back home runs by Chrissy Melcher and Hannah Smith in the third inning. For the game, Erskine outhit King 15 to 6 but only McCarson's double was for extra bases.
Kaylin White (Columbia, SC, White Knoll High School) earned the victory pitching one scoreless inning in relief of starter
Karen Hawkins (Belton, SC, J.L. Mann High School). Hawkins tossed the first five innings, giving up four runs on four hits. All four hits went for extra bases. Hawkins struck out two and walked three.
King's Lauren Smith took the loss, surrendering five earned runs on thirteen hits over 5.1 innings. Smith helped herself by inducing three double-play ground balls.
McCarson finished a perfect 2 for 2 in the nightcap. She drove in three runs and scored one. For the day, McCarson was 4 for 5 with 4 runs batted in and a run scored.
Reynolds also picked up two more hits in the nightcap, giving her four hits on the day.
Sydney Smith led the Fleet in game two going 3 for 4 with a rbi and run scored.
Erskine hosts conference foe Pfeiffer University for two games on Saturday. The first game starts at 2:00 p.m.
