GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Erskine College softball team (1-1) begin its 2022 season with a pair of games in the Brianna Surrento Kickoff Classic, hosted by Lander University on Friday afternoon at Doug Spears Field. The Erskine offense exploded for 11 runs in their first two innings to cruise by Mars Hill, 11-1, but fell to Lander by a score of 9-5 in the back half of their doubleheader.
 
THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Erskine holds a 5-2 series lead over Mars Hill and has a narrow 9-7 advantage over the Bearcats.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1: Erskine 11-1 Mars Hill
The first six batters of the game for the Fleet all reached, only one via a hit as Erskine opened up a 3-0 lead before recording an out, which meant an early exit for the Mars Hill starting pitcher. Productive outs from freshmen Maddie Ingram and Brooke Patterson gave the Fleet a 5-0 lead after just one inning. Kali Morton worked around a walk and an error in the top of the second to keep the momentum with the Fleet as their offense picked up right where they left off. Kyndall Chandler reached on a fielder's choice and an error plated two more runs for the Fleet. A wild pitch scored the eighth run of the game for Erskine moments later. Katie Hunter added another with an RBI groundout before Ingram reached on an error, leading to the 10th run of the game for Erskine. Zoey Frasier capped the monster inning with an RBI single, giving Erskine an 11-0 lead after just two innings. The Lions scored a run in the fifth, but Payton Cox struck out the next hitter to end the inning, giving Erskine an 11-1 win as the game was called due to a mercy rule after five innings.

GAME 2: Lander 9-5 Erskine
The Erskine offense again struck early as Kyndall Chandler capped a stretch of three-consecutive singles by the Fleet in the first inning to give Erskine an early 1-0 lead. And freshman Kaley Ingle held up the lead on the mound through the first two innings before the Lander bats came to life. A two-run double in the third inning put the Bearcats ahead 2-1 before Lander struck for seven runs in the fourth to go up 9-1. But, Erskine battled back as Ellison Garren launched a solo home run in the following inning before Ingle helped herself with a three-run blast in the seventh to cut the Lander lead to 9-5. But, the Fleet rally came up short as Lander topped Erskine, 9-5.

THE PLAYER
Kyndall Chandler tallied a hit in both games in the middle of the Erskine order, drove in three runs and scored twice as she was at the center of Erskine's success on offense on Friday.

Kali Morton threw four shutout innings in Game 1 against Mars Hill, allowing just two hits in the outing and picking up the win.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine will wrap up their play in the Brianna Surrento Kickoff Classic with two more games on Saturday. The Fleet and Mars Hill will meet again tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. before Erskine takes on the University of West Georgia at 11:30 a.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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