DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (1-2) dropped its 2022 home opener against Queens University of Charlotte (3-1) by a score of 19-6 as the game was called after eight innings due to darkness at Grier Field on Wednesday afternoon.

THE ESSENTIALS 
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THE SERIES
Erskine still holds a narrow 4-3 advantage over the Royals all-time but have lost two straight in the series.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams went quietly in their first inning at the plate, but Queens broke through in the second inning off Erskine starter Harry Bernard as the Royals scored three runs to jump out to an early lead. But, the Erskine offense answered right back in the bottom half of the second inning. With a runner on second base and two outs, freshman Kyle Marti slapped a single into a left field to get the Fleet on the board at 3-1. A hit by pitch and an error loaded the bases for Armando Becerra, who ripped a game-tying two-run single into right field. And the Fleet weren't done there as Cal Bocchino followed with a two-run single of his own, before Ashby Smith singled home Bocchino to finish a six-run inning for the Fleet to take a 6-3 lead. Bernard stranded a one-out double in Queens' half of the third, but the Royals retook the lead with a four-spot in the fourth inning, which ended Bernard's afternoon. The Royals added another run in the next inning on a two-out RBI double to extend their lead to 8-6 before exploding for nine runs in the seventh inning. Queens' bullpen kept the Erskine offense at bay while the Royals added two more runs in the eighth and the game was called after eight innings due to darkness, as Queens topped the Fleet, 19-6 in Erskine's home opener.

THE PLAYER
Ashby Smith was the only Erskine player to record multiple hits as he went 2-for-4 at the plate, including an RBI single that capped a 6-run second inning for the Fleet.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine remains at home as they welcome Thomas Jefferson University to town for a four-game set against the Rams at Grier Field this weekend. The teams will play doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
 
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