MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (10-8, 3-4 CC) defeated the reigning Conference Carolinas regular season champions, the University of Mount Olive (9-5, 3-1 CC) by a score of 8-4 at Scarborough Field on Friday evening to began a three-game series.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Mount Olive still holds a convincing 41-11 lead in the all-time series.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Erskine wasted no time jumping out to an early lead as Armando Becerra, just the second batter of the game, continued his tear at the plate with a solo home run down the right field line to open the scoring. But, Mount Olive took the lead in the second inning on a two-run single with the bases loaded to make it a 2-1 game. Erskine starter Allan Saathoff reloaded the bases by walking the next Trojan batter but got a huge strikeout to limit the damage and strand the bases loaded. The Fleet built on that momentum as the first two batters of the third inning got on base before Christian Rivera drove them both in with a two-run double to put Erskine back in front, 3-2. Two batters later, Kyle Marti hit an opposite field triple to score Rivera before Ashby Smith singled home Marti as the Fleet struck for a four-spot in their half of the third inning to go in front, 5-2. A pair of errors from the Fleet, helped the Trojans score twice in the bottom of the third and make it a one-run game. But, Saathoff settled in and put up a pair of scoreless frames before departing after five solid innings of work with the Fleet leading, 5-4 thanks to a huge inning-ending double play with Mount Olive threatening with runners on the corners and just one out in the fifth. Parker Cassell came on in relief and allowed just one baserunner in his two scoreless innings of work out of the Erskine bullpen. Marti led off the eighth inning reaching on an error and Smith made the Trojans pay with a double to right center field to plate Marti. Cal Bocchino added some more insurance for Erskine in the inning on an RBI single and another Trojan error on the play allowed Cal Kryska to score as well, putting the Fleet in front 8-4 and needing just six outs for a series-opening victory. Johnny Hummel came on for the Fleet with Mount Olive threatening again in the bottom half of the eighth with two runners on base and just one out. But, Hummel got a fly out and strikeout to end the Trojans' threat and maintain Erskine's four-run lead. Hummel slammed the door shut in the ninth, retiring the side in order including a pair of strikeouts to finish off an 8-4 win for the Fleet in Game 1.

THE PLAYER
Johnny Hummel recorded the final five outs of the game for Erskine, getting a massive strikeout to end the eighth inning and strand two Mount Olive runners in scoring position before setting down the Trojans in order in the ninth to seal the victory.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine and Mount Olive wrap up their weekend set with a doubleheader tomorrow, starting at 12:00 p.m.
 
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