MURFEESBORO, N.C. – The Erskine College softball team (18-8, 11-3 CC) picked up a sweep of a doubleheader at Chowan University (8-22-1, 2-14 CC) at Hawks Field on Friday afternoon. Shi Cain's two-run single in the 10th inning was the difference in a 4-2 Erskine victory in Game 1, and the Fleet finished the sweep with a 7-2 win in Game 2.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Erskine has now won eight straight in the series and 10 of 11 all-time against the Hawks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1: Hannah Houge got the start for the Fleet in the first game, and her and the Chowan starter exchanged zeroes through the first three frames, before Chowan took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. The Fleet was offense quieted, but eventually got on the board when a Chloe Hamilton fielder's choice plated Katie Spires to tie the game. After both teams went in order in the seventh inning, the game moved into extra innings, just the Fleet's third of the year. Both teams stranded the courtesy runner in the eighth inning as Houge induced a lineout on a bunt and another lineout to send the game into the nineth inning. The Fleet nearly left the courtesy runner on base again in the nineth, but a two-out hit from Faith Belue gave Erskine their first lead. Chowan tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. But, A Hawks error led to Shi Cain's two-run single to give Erskine a 4-2 lead, and Houge danced out of trouble in the bottom of the tenth inning as Erskine won Game 1, 4-2.

GAME 2: Houge got the start again in Game 2, and the Fleet offense continued to struggle in the early innings while Houge kept the Hawks off the board. And the Erskine bats finally broke through in the fourth inning. Belue opened the scoring on an RBI groundout, and Ellison Garren and Katie Hunter had run-scoring hits as the Fleet opened up a 3-0 lead. Erskine added to that in the fifth when Parker Birch plated a run with a double, before another Garren RBI single extended Erskine's lead to 5-0. Moments later, Hunter delivered a two-run single as the Fleet blew open a 7-0 lead. Chowan scored twice in the bottom half of the inning, but Houge slammed the door to secure a 7-2 Erskine win and a sweep of the doubleheader.
 
THE PLAYER
GAME 1: Shi Cain had just one hit in four at-bats, but it was a game-winning two-run single in the tenth inning to give the Fleet a 4-2 win.
 
GAME 2: Parker Birch was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI double to open a four-run fifth inning for the Fleet in Game 2.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet have another road doubleheader Saturday as they make the short trip to Wilson to take on Barton College (19-15, 10-6 CC) at 1:00 p.m.
 
Erskine has won four straight against the Bulldogs, including a road sweep last season, and lead the all-time series 15-6.

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