DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (6-2) rallied late to defeat Mars Hill University (2-7) in walk-off fashion, 13-12, as Cal Bocchino scored the winning run on a throwing error in the ninth inning on Tuesday afternoon at Grier Field.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Erskine now leads the all-time series 7-5 over the Lions and have won three straight meetings.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After Blake Tipmore worked a scoreless top of the first inning in his first collegiate start, the Erskine offense continued to score early in games. The first two batters of the game were retired for the Fleet, but Erskine manufactured the game's first run on an Ashby Smith RBI single before Armando Becerra drove in two more runs to put Erskine ahead 3-0 after just one inning. Cal Bocchino added another run for the Fleet in the second inning on a fielder's choice that scored Cal Kryska. But, Mars Hill struck for six runs in the third inning and added three more runs in the fourth to take a 9-4 lead. Bocchino poked an RBI single into right field in the ensuing inning to make it a 9-5 game, but the Lions answered back with a run of their own in the top of the fifth as the visitors led 10-5 at the halfway point. Then, in the bottom half of the inning, the Fleet had two runners on and just one out for Kyle Marti. The freshman shortstop lifted a tailling fly ball into the right center field gap where the Lions' center fielder and right fielder collided, allowing all three runs to score. Kane Fisher followed by drawing a walk and Kryska singled back up the middle to suddenly bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the form of Bocchino. The Erskine second baseman continued his monster day at the plate as he launched a three-run home run over the left center field fence as Erskine came all the way to back to take an 11-10 lead. Mars Hill led off the sixth inning with a home run to tie the game and took the lead on a wild pitch later in the frame. Fisher tied the game in the bottom half of the sixth with an RBI groundout to score Tariq Bacon. Both bullpens began to take over with Parker Cassell having two dominant innings out of the Fleet 'pen. Ira Clifton struck out a pair of batters in a perfect top of the ninth inning to give the Fleet a chance to win it in the bottom half. The first two batters of the inning were retired, but Bocchino roped a line drive over the glove of the Mars Hill shortstop for a two-out single. Bocchino advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then his aggressive base running won the game for the Fleet moments later. Bocchino read a pitch in the dirt and immediately took off for third base. The Mars Hill catcher scrambled to the loose ball and made a wild throw to third that sailed into left field and allowed Bocchino to score the winning run as Erskine won a mid-week thriller, 13-12.

THE PLAYER
Cal Bocchino was 4-for-6 with 5 RBIs and 3 runs scored along with a pair of stolen bases as the senior filled up the box score. Bocchino had a go-ahead three-run home run in the fifth inning and manufactured the winning run in the ninth.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine begins Conference Carolinas play this weekend with a massive home series against North Greenville University (5-2). The Crusaders are the reigning conference tournament champions, but Erskine earned a split in a four-game series at NGU last year.
 
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