DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (7-4) split a doubleheader to wrap up a three-game series with North Greenville University (7-3) to begin conference play on Saturday afternoon at Grier Field. Erskine won the first game of the day by a score of 7-4, but the Fleet dropped the rubber game of the series, 14-7.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Erskine still leads the all-time series 35-25.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 7-4 North Greenville
North Greenville opened the scoring in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead but the Erskine lineup went right after NGU starter Reece Fields. Cal Bocchino followed an Armando Becerra walk with a double to right field to give the Fleet had two runners in scoring position with just one out. Tariq Bacon put the Fleet in front with a two-run single up the middle. After Gregory Sanders drew a walk, Kyle Marti continued his hot stretch at the plate with a ringing two-RBI double to right center field. Ashby Smith capped a five-run first inning for Erskine with a single that scored Marti as the Fleet led 5-1 after just one inning. The Crusaders clawed back as they scored a run in each of the next three innings, cutting the Erskine lead to just 5-4 going into the bottom of the third. But, the Fleet regained the cushion to their lead as Kyle Marti ripped a one-out single, advanced to second, third, and scored on three NGU wild pitches. Kane Fisher followed with his first big fly of the season to make it a 7-4 game after three innings. Johnny Hummel was electric out of the bullpen, pitching the final three innings and allowing just one baserunner while striking out six batters as he slammed the door shut to finish off a 7-4 victory for the Fleet.

Game 2: North Greenville 14-7 Erskine
North Greenville jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after their first three innings at the plate. Erskine got on the board in the bottom half of the inning when Cal Bocchino drew a bases-loaded walk, but the Fleet left them loaded and were forced to settle for just one run. The Fleet added another run in the fourth as an error allowed Armando Becerra to score the second run of the game for Erskine. But, the Crusaders scored four times in the fifth and sixth innings to blow the game wide open. Christian Rivera led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run and Kane Fisher and Dalton Boyd added RBI doubles as Erskine scored three times in their half of the sixth. The Fleet scored again in the seventh inning on a Becerra run-scoring single and Ashby Smith launched his first home run of his Erskine career in the eighth inning but the damage from NGU in the middle innings was too much for Erskine to overcome as they lost the rubber game of the series, 14-7.

THE PLAYER
Kane Fisher was 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the Erskine win in Game 1 and added an RBI double in the second game.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine continues its early season gauntlet at home on Tuesday afternoon when they welcome the reigning Division II National Champions and #1 ranked Wingate Bulldogs (11-0) to Grier Field. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
 
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