BRISTOL, TENN. – The Erskine College baseball team (15-11, 12-6 CC) swept King University (10-14, 9-12 CC) to open their series at King Baseball Field on Friday. Erskine won Game 1 by a score of 12-6, and the Fleet rallied for a 7-5 win in Game 2.
 
THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
The Fleet now lead the all-time series 14-6 and have won four of the last five meetings in Bristol.

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1: The Erskine bats wasted no time getting going as a Dayan Reinoso 2-run triple gave the Fleet a 2-0 lead in the first inning. King answered with a run in the bottom half, but a Livan Reinoso two-run home run extended the Fleet lead to 5-1. Cody Forster added another run in the third inning with an RBI double. Tariq Bacon and Dalton Boyd also had run-scoring hits in the frame as Erskine led 9-1 after three innings. Dayan Reinoso launched a solo home run in the fourth inning as the Fleet lead ballooned to nine runs. King scored twice in the bottom half of the frame, and both offenses cooled off in the middle inning. Erskine got some insurance in the top of the seventh when Dalton Reeves and Dayan Reinoso added run-scoring hits. King refused to go quietly, but the Erskine lead proved to be too much as the Fleet took Game 1, 12-6.
 
GAME 2: The Tornado used that momentum from the end of the first game to open the scoring in the very first inning of Game 2. Cal Bocchino tied the game in the second inning on a run-scoring single, but King regained the lead with a four-spot in the third inning and had a 5-1 lead. But the Erskine lineup eventually delivered. Reeves scored on a past ball moments before a Forster RBI single, and a run-scoring double from Tariq Bacon narrowed the King lead to 5-4. Toshawn Drew held King at bay in the seventh inning by striking out the side as part of his five-inning performance out of the bullpen allowing just one run. And Erskine capped the comeback in the eighth inning. Bocchino doubled to right field to tie the game at 5, and a Bacon RBI single gave the Fleet their first lead at 6-5. Michael Kay worked around a one-out single for a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning. And the Fleet added some insurance on a Reeves RBI single. But, it was not needed as Johnny Hummel slammed the door shut, striking out the side to secure a 7-5 win and an Erskine sweep on Day 1.

THE PLAYER
GAME 1: Dayan Reinoso was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a solo home run in the fourth inning and a two-run triple to open the scoring in the first inning.

GAME 2: Tariq Bacon was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and had the game-winning single in the eighth inning that gave the Fleet the lead after trailing by four runs.
 
Toshawn Drew earned the win on the mound for Erskine out of the bullpen as he threw five solid innings, allowing just one run while scattering six hits and striking out six batters.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine wraps up a four-game road set against the Tornado with another doubleheader tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.
 
MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

    Visit the Official Home of Erskine Athletics at www.erskinesports.com
  
    Follow us on Social Media – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Photos