Flying Fleet baseball split their double header with Mars Hill this afternoon at a neutral site in Marion, NC. The Fleet took the first game with a 5-3 win before dropping the second game 10.
Game 1: The first two innings went by quickly for both the Flying Fleet and the Mars Hill Lions with neither team earning a run. The third inning saw an increase in action for the Lions when Tyler Lala hit a single that brought in two runners. Down 0-2, it wasn't until the fourth inning that the Fleet were able to get on the scoreboard.
Kane Fisher hit a sacrifice fly that brought in teammate Drew Yneista, followed by
Cal Bochino's single to the pitcher which brought in
Zach Carter. The Fleet had the opportunity to take the lead, but were forced to leave two men on base. Erskine struck again in the 7th, scoring two more runs on a single from
Justin Fox. Mars Hill was able to close out the inning with three Fleet players left on base. Up 4-2 after the 7th, the Fleet gave up one run in the top of the 8th but were able to match it with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Mars Hill was unable to earn a run in the 9th, ending the game with a 5-3 win for the Fleet.
Game 2: A quick and scoreless first inning was followed by an exciting second. Mars Hill got on the board first when Devin Magnum was able to bring in teammate Ruben Trillo. The Fleet answered with a strong bottom half of the inning. After getting walked,
Zach Carter stole both second and third base to put himself in scoring position.
Xander Vizzcorando singled to left field for the RBI. Livian Reinos earned a double not long after bringing in Vizzcorando and giving Erskine a 2-1 lead, a lead that would prove to be the last for the Fleet. Leaving one man on base at the end of the second, they went on to give up four runs in the top of the third. With a 2-5 lead over the Fleet, the Lions methodically added to their lead, earning one run in each of the subsequent three innings. The Fleet were unable to score any runs of their own, but were able to hold the Lions scoreless through the seventh and eighth innings. The Lions added on to their lead with two more runs in the top of the ninth. The Fleet were able to score a run in the bottom of the ninth due to a wild pitch, but were unable to close the gap. The Fleet lost the second game 4-10.
Saturday, February 8th will bring the Fleet to Rome, GA for a matchup against Shorter University.
