DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (17-15, 8-10 CC) rallied from three separate five-run deficits to knock off rival Lander University (15-16, 5-7 CC) by a score of 16-13 to clinch the season series victory over the Bearcats at Grier Field on Wednesday afternoon. Dalton Boyd gave the Fleet the lead with a go-ahead, two-run single as part of a six-run eighth inning for Erskine. 

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Lander leads the all-time series 26-13.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After Deric Hanko worked a scoreless top of the first inning, the Fleet struck for three straight hits to start the bottom half of the opening frame, capped by an RBI single from Cal Bocchino to give Erskine an early 1-0 lead. But, Lander exploded for a six-run second inning as they answered back to go up 6-1. However, that led to the beginning of a trend where a resilient Fleet offense just continued clawing back from deficits all afternoon long. In the bottom half of the second, Cal Kryska got things started with an RBI single before Kyle Marti reached on an error to score another run. Armando Becerra followed with a safety squeeze bunt to score Kryska before Bocchino capped the inning with a run-scoring double as the Fleet trimmed the deficit to 6-5. Lander scored an insurance run in the fourth inning to double its lead, but an RBI single from Marti in the bottom half got the run right back as the Bearcats lead was back to one run, 7-6. Then, Lander scored four times in the top of the fifth inning as they opened up their second five-run lead of the day, 11-6. But, Erskine again wasted no time getting back into the game as RBI doubles from Christian Rivera and Ashby Smith cut the Bearcats lead to 11-8. Lander regained its five-run lead in the sixth inning with a pair of runs to go in front, 13-8. In the bottom half, Rivera's sacrifice fly allowed Marti to score before a throwing error from the Lander catcher on a stolen base attempt from Bocchino let Becerra score easily from third to make it a 13-10 game. After coming on in the sixth inning, Ira Clifton went back out to the mound for the seventh and put up the first scoreless frame by Fleet pitching since the third inning. Josh Collett followed Clifton with a scoreless top of the eighth inning and the Fleet finally broke through to take the lead in the bottom half. After Becerra led off with a single the other way, the next batters struck out for the Fleet and suddenly Erskine was four outs away from defeat. Smith reached on an infield single before Kane Fisher worked a walk to load the bases for Gregory Sanders who drew a walk himself to make it a 13-11 game. Then, Tariq Bacon was hit by a pitch that allowed Smith to score and make it a one run game. And that set the stage, with the bases still loaded and two outs, for Dalton Boyd, who delivered with a line-drive single into right field that scored a pair of runs and gave the Fleet their first lead since all the way back in the first inning, 14-13. Another bases loaded walk and a wild pitch gave Erskine two more runs and some insurance to cap a mammoth six-run eighth inning, all of it coming with two outs as seven consecutive Fleet batters reached base. Johnny Hummel came on for the ninth inning and set down the side in order, picking up his eighth save of the year, and sealing a 16-13 comeback victory over Lander.

THE PLAYER
Dalton Boyd did not start the game, but came on in the seventh inning as a defensive replacement and it was his bat that won the Fleet the game as he came through with a game-winning, two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine resumes conference play this weekend on the road when they go to Chowan University (8-18, 3-12 CC) for a three-game series starting Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The Fleet won a four-game series over the Hawks late last season, scoring 58 runs in the four games.
 
MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

    Visit the Official Home of Erskine Athletics at www.erskinesports.com
  
    Follow us on Social Media – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Photos