GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (0-1) surrendered six runs in the ninth and fell 12-10 to Lander University (1-0) in its season-opener at Dolny Stadium on Thursday.
 
THE ESSENTIALS 
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THE SERIES
The 35th meeting between Lander and Erskine favored the Bearcats who now lead the series 24-11. A season ago, Erskine opened with a dramatic, walk-off victory over the Bearcats when Drew Yniesta connected for a two-out single to give the Fleet a 7-6 win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The 2020-21 season began in a unique way for the Flying Fleet who were the designated home team on the scoreboard, but were playing in a true road venue against the host Bearcats. In the top of the first starting pitcher Allan Saathoff allowed the first two Bearcats to reach base and then surrendered an early lead to Lander off an RBI groundout. Erskine responded in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run off the bat of Livan Reinoso. On the mound, Saathoff would then go on to toss four scoreless innings. The Fleet bats came alive in the third, when they plated three runs. A pair of singles from Trevor Lesane and Livan Reinoso and a pair of errors set up catcher Dayan Reinoso for a two-run single to give the Fleet a 4-1 lead. The Bearcats sliced back into the Fleet lead in the sixth when a pair of solo home runs made it 4-3 ballgame. Zach Overholt came on and tossed a scoreless seventh before the Fleet plated two in the bottom half of the seventh off a triple from Cody Forster. Overholt made way for Tariq Bacon in the eighth who allowed three runs and left the game tied 6-6. The Bearcats doubled their score in the ninth as the Fleet managed to put just four across, falling 12-10. Tariq Bacon (0-1) was issued the loss.
 
THE PLAYER
Livan Reinoso wasted little time going yard as the junior picked up his first home run in the bottom of the first inning. Reinoso connected for nine long balls last season. Reinoso finished 3-for-6 with three runs scored.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet return to Greenwood tomorrow for a neutral site doubleheader against Queens University of Charlotte (0-0). First pitch is set for 1:00 PM against the Royals.
 
Erskine and Queens have played just four games all-time, all four during the 2018-19 season in which the Fleet took three of four.
 
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