WILSON, N.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (23-20, 19-13 CC) was eliminated from the 2021 Conference Carolinas Tournament following a 5-3 loss against the University of Mount Olive (34-9, 27-5 CC) in an elimination game at Fleming Stadium on Saturday afternoon. A three-run ninth inning from top-seeded Mount Olive ended Erskine's tournament hopes.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Mount Olive now leads the all-time series 41-10 after taking four of five against the Fleet this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams were dealt heartbreaking losses a night ago to send them to Saturday's elimination game, and it was the fifth-ranked Trojans who responded first as they plated a run in each of the first two innings to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. Erskine starter Harry Bernard was able to limit the damage to just that and he eventually more than settled into the game. And the Erskine offense got themselves right back into it. Dayan Reinoso launched a solo home run in the second inning to cut the deficit in half, and Armando Becerra capped a stretch of three straight singles later in the frame, with his being a run-scoring hit that plated Gregory Sanders to tie the game at two. A Mount Olive batter reached first base on an error with one out in the third inning, but then Bernard began to dominate as he retired the next 18 batters he faced against a Trojans offense that averages more than eight runs a game. The Erskine offense had its chances to take a  lead of their own. In the fourth inning, the Fleet got back-to-back singles with just one out but could not convert. In the sixth inning, Erskine manufactured another runner in scoring position, but could not bring him around. Then, in the eighth inning, a wild pitch allowed Sanders to advance to second base with just one out, but he was stranded there as the game moved into the ninth inning tied at two. Bernard got the first batter of the inning to fly out, but the following hitter poked a single back up the middle. And with Bernard's pitch count up over 100, the Fleet went to the bullpen. Mount Olive eventually found a breakthrough as a double scored a run to put the Trojans in front, and a two-run home run a few batters later extended it to a 5-2 game. But, third-seeded Erskine did not quietly in their half. Cody Forster worked a leadoff walk and scored on a Dalton Reeves' two-out double, as for the second consecutive game, the Fleet had the tying run at the plate in their final at-bat. But, Erskine's comeback attempt ended there as they were defeated 5-3 in an elimination game in the Conference Carolinas Tournament.

THE PLAYER
Harry Bernard was ultimately tagged with the loss, but delivered his best start as a member of the Flying Fleet. Bernard pitched into the ninth inning, allowed just four hits and three runs while totaling a season-high eight strikeouts to no walks. Bernard allowed a run in each of the first two innings, but at one point retired 18 straight Mount Olive batters as he stifled the regular season conference champions.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine's 2021 season came to an end on Saturday following its second loss in as many days in the double elimination conference tournament. The Fleet finished the season with 23 wins and were led by an offense that averaged more than 10 runs a game. Erskine graduates six seniors from this year's team and will now turn their attention toward preparing for 2022.
 
MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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