CENTRAL, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (19-17, 16-12 CC) dropped both games of a doubleheader to close out a unique four-game series against Southern Wesleyan University (7-25, 7-23 CC) on Wednesday at C. Keith Connor Field. The Warriors took Game 1 by a score of 5-2 and came out on top in an offensive shootout in Game 2, 15-13.
 
THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Despite dropping three of four this season against Southern Wesleyan, Erskine still leads the all-time series 18 to 4.

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1: Dalton Reeves gave the Fleet an early lead on a two-run home run to right field in the top of the first inning, and Erskine starter Harry Bernard held that lead until he ran into some trouble in the fourth inning when the Warriors struck for five runs to take their first lead of the game. And, the Fleet offense, after a hot start, struggled against SWU starter Tanner Glass who went the distance in the opener en route to a 5-2 Southern Wesleyan win. Erskine reliever Johnny Hummel threw two perfect innings out of the bullpen with four strikeouts to keep the Fleet within striking distance, but the offense failed to score.

GAME 2: Scoring was not an issue in Game 2, but this time it Southern Wesleyan's turn to score early as they took a 4-0 lead after the first inning. Tariq Bacon got the Fleet on the board in the second inning with a solo home run to left field. Then, in the third inning, a Cal Bocchino three-run blast tied the game before Dontae Wade followed with a solo shot as Erskine went back-to-back and took a 5-4 lead. In the bottom half, SWU jumped back in front with a two-run home run, but Bocchino delivered a two-run bomb of his own in the fourth inning to regain the lead for Erskine, 7-6. Again, the Warriors answered with a pair of runs to go back on top in the bottom half, but the Reinoso brothers each tallied an RBI in the fifth inning as Erskine climbed back in front in what became a see-saw affair. For the third consecutive inning, Southern Wesleyan scored twice in the bottom half and held a narrow 10-9 advantage in a breathtaking Game 2. The Fleet were held off the board in their half of the sixth and the Warriors added another to make it an 11-9 game. But, Dalton Reeves' launched a two-run big fly to center field in the seventh to tie things at 11 apiece. Erskine pitching just struggled to put up scoreless frames and SWU cashed in a two-out error in the bottom of the seventh with three more runs to go back on top, 14-11. In the top of the eighth, Livan Reinoso and Drew Yniesta hit back-to-back solo home runs, the second time in the game the Fleet achieved that feat. But, Southern Wesleyan added an insurance run in the bottom half as they scored in each of the last six at-bats. Erskine had the tying run at the plate in the nineth inning, but could not complete the comeback as they were defeated in Game 2, 15-13.

THE PLAYER
GAME 1: Dalton Reeves had just one hit, but it was a two-run home run in the very first inning for the Fleet's only runs of the game.

GAME 2: Cal Bocchino was one of eight Erskine players with a multi-hit game, and both of his left the ballpark. The Erskine second baseman hit a game-tying three-run blast in the third inning and put the Fleet in front with a two-run big fly in the fourth inning.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet return home for a four-game set to close out the regular season against Chowan University (5-22, 2-22 CC), starting with a doubleheader Thursday at noon.
 
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