DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College softball team (9-5) earned its first two wins in Conference Carolinas play with a sweep against Lees-McRae College (3-15, 0-4 CC) on Friday at the Erskine Softball Complex. Hannah Houge tossed a complete game shutout in both games for the Fleet.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Erskine now leads the all-time series 22-6 and have won three straight meetings against the Bobcats, all shutouts from Houge.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1: The Fleet got a hit in each of the first three innings but could not scratch across an opening run as both starters exchanged zeroes in Game 1. In the fourth inning, Parker Birch led off with a double down the left field and line and scored moments later on a Taylor Antley double as Erskine finally broke through and took a 1-0 lead. That would be all the help Erskine starter Hannah Houge needed as she worked out of trouble in the fifth and sixth innings before striking out the side in the seventh to give the Fleet a 1-0 win in Game 1. Houge allowed just five baserunners in her complete game shutout as Erskine won their first conference game of the season.
 
GAME 2: After throwing 114 pitches in Game 1, Houge got the ball to start the back half of the doubleheader. Houge surrendered a one-out single and the next batter reached on an error, but a groundout ended a scoreless top of the first inning for the Bobcats. And the Erskine scored an early run for Houge in the bottom half the opening frame as Sydney McInnis, who singled with one out, came around to score a Birch RBI single to give the Fleet a 1-0 lead. Houge continued her dominance through the middle innings, retiring 10 consecutive hitters at one point in the game. The Fleet added a crucial insurance run in the fifth inning on another Birch RBI single, this time scoring Kelci Brown to double the Fleet lead. Houge took the mound in the top of the seventh just three outs away from another complete game shutout, but the leadoff batter reached on an error to bring the tying run to the plate for Lees-McRae. But, Houge induced two flyouts and a groundout as she went the distance again in Game 2 to give Erskine a 2-0 win.

THE PLAYER
GAME 1: Hannah Houge (8-1) tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just two hits while striking out 14 Bobcats hitters. Houge was just five batters over the minimum in her Game 1 victory.
 
GAME 2: Houge threw another complete game shutout in Game 2, allowing just three hits while striking out 8 batters. Parker Birch was 2-for-3 and drove in both Erskine runs in Game 2.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet welcome Conference Carolinas foe King University (8-4, 3-1 CC) on Saturday for another doubleheader.

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