HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (21-15, 11-10 CC) pulled away thanks to a six-run ninth inning to defeat Coker University (13-24, 8-7 SAC) by a score of 9-2 at Tom J. New Field on Wednesday afternoon.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
The Fleet hold a 17-13 edge in the all-time series.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Riding a six-game winning streak, Erskine wasted no time taking an early lead as a Kyle Marti walk to lead off the ballgame followed by a wild pitch and a throwing error set up an RBI groundout for Armando Becerra to score the game's first run. Deric Hanko tossed a pair of scoreless innings on the mound as the Erskine starter, and the Fleet doubled their lead in the third inning as Marti scored on a wild pitch after drawing another free pass earlier in the inning. Coker responded with a pair of runs in the fifth inning to draw level at 2. A trio of Zach Overholt, Parker Cassell and Harry Bernard combined to put up three scoreless frames to keep the game tied heading into the eighth inning. Cal Bocchino led off the inning with a single, stole second and eventually scored on a Joseph Quintana sacrifice fly to put Erskine back in front, 3-2. Matthew Grizzle came on for the bottom half of the eighth and worked around a leadoff single to keep the Fleet in the lead heading into the ninth. After a scrappy, competitive first eight innings, Erskine blew the game wide open with a monster inning. The Fleet began the frame with three straight singles and loaded the bases with nobody out. Becerra drove in a run on a fielder's choice before Bocchino singled home another run. Christian Rivera followed with an RBI double and Dontae Wade kept the rally moving with a pinch-hit RBI single to make it a 7-2 game. Quintana capped the big inning with a bunt single combined with a Coker error that plated two more runs. Ira Clifton set down the Cobras in order in the bottom half of the ninth as Erskine pulled away late for a 9-2 win.

THE PLAYER
Joseph Quintana did not start the game but had two run-producing at-bats in the final two innings. The Fleet second baseman drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth and then his bunt single allowed two more runs to score in the ninth inning.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine resumes conference play this weekend against third-place Belmont Abbey College (22-13, 13-7 CC) in a series starting Friday night at 6:00 p.m. The Crusaders swept the Fleet in a regular-season series in Due West last year, but Erskine dominated Belmont Abbey in the first round of the conference tournament,winning 11-1.
 
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