DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (16-15, 8-10 CC) rallied from behind to win both games of a doubleheader against King University (12-12, 9-8 CC) and clinch a series victory at Grier Field on Saturday afternoon. Christian Rivera's fifth-inning RBI double proved to be the difference in a 3-2 Fleet victory in Game 1, and the offense exploded in the middle of innings of a 15-5 win in Game 2. 

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Erskine leads the all-time series 22-10.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 3-2 King
The Fleet started slow in a very important second game of the weekend series with King as the Tornado struck for a run in the first and third innings to take an early 2-0 lead. Erskine starter Connor Harrison was able to limit the damage in the third inning and the Fleet broke through in the bottom half. Gregory Sanders hit a leadoff single before stealing second base, and then Kyle Marti roped a double down the left field line as he and Sanders traded places to get Erskine on the board. A few pitches later, Armando Becerra slapped a single up the middle to score Marti and tie the game at 2. Deric Hanko and Ira Clifton worked the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and kept the game level, which set up an opportunity for the Fleet to take their first lead. After Becerra drew a walk and stole second base, Christian Rivera came up clutch with a two-out RBI double to give Erskine a 3-2 lead. Johnny Hummel came on out of the Fleet bullpen and continued his dominance on the mound in 2022, working two scoreless innings and earning his seventh save of the year as he sealed a 3-2 Erskine win in comeback variety.

Game 2: Erskine 15-5 King
Slow starts plagued the Fleet again in the rubber match of the series as a three-run home run from King in the second inning extended the Tornado's lead to 4-0. Parker Cassell made an earlier entrance into the game than normal, but ended the Tornado's threat in the second inning and giving his offense a chance to rally again. In the bottom of the second, Kane Fisher doubled down the left field line to get Erskine on the board before a sacrifice fly from Ashby Smith in the third inning made it a 4-2 game. After cruising through a couple of innings on the mound, Cassell went back out for the fifth inning and a couple of softly hit singles loaded the bases before a hit batter gave King some insurance at 5-2. Cassell induced a soft lineout against the next batter to strand the bases loaded and keep Erskine well within striking distance. And the Fleet capitalized on the momentum in the bottom half. With the bases loaded and two outs, Gregory Sanders worked a walk to get the Fleet back within two runs. Then, Cal Kryska followed with a punishing blow as he ripped a bases-clearing double down the left field line to send Erskine in front, 6-5. Dalton Boyd jumped on the first pitch he saw moments later with a ringing double down the right field line to add to Erskine's lead, 7-5. Caleb Dix relieved Cassell in the sixth inning and continued the Fleet's bullpen dominance as he struck out the side. And Erskine put the Tornado away for good with an explosive six-run bottom of the seventh inning. Boyd got it started with another RBI double before Armando Becerra brought him home on an infield single. A pair of wild pitches allowed the Fleet to score two more runs before Kane Fisher capped a red-hot week at the plate with a rocketed, line drive, two-run home run to center field to make it a 13-5 game. Dix cruised through the top of the eighth inning before Cal Bocchino singled home two more runs for Erskine in the bottom half before Josh Collett worked a scoreless ninth inning to seal a convincing 15-5 win for Erskine in the rubber match.

THE PLAYER
The Erskine bullpen worked 11 and a third innings in the doubleheader and allowed just one run on five hits while striking out 17 batters to fuel the Fleet's sweep of the doubleheader. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine has a home mid-week contest with rival Lander University (15-13, 5-6 PBC) on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Grier Field. The Fleet and Bearcats split a mini-two game series in both team's season openers at Lander back on the first weekend of February. 
 
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