DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (9-3, 1-1 CC) defeated Lincoln Memorial University (10-1) by a score of 9-6 at Grier Field on Tuesday afternoon as the Fleet took down an unbeaten team for the second time in four days. Christian Rivera had three extra-base hits for the Fleet, while Ashby Smith added four RBIs.

THE ESSENTIALS 
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HOW IT HAPPENED
After a two-run home run from LMU in the top of the first, Christian Rivera got the Fleet on the board with a monster solo home run over the right center field fence that made it a 2-1 game. But, Lincoln Memorial added two more runs in the second and another in the third, taking a 5-1 lead after three innings. Ashby Smith began his afternoon of clutch hitting with an RBI single in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 5-2. The Railsplitters answered with an RBI double in the top of the fifth and led 6-2 at the halfway point. But, Erskine took control of the game from that point. Three straight two-out singles from the Fleet chased the LMU starter as they went to the bullpen with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Then, the LMU defense gave the Fleet a new life, as the Railsplitters middle infield committed errors on consecutive plays, allowing a pair of runs to score. Smith followed with a two-run single that tied the game at 6 as the Fleet took full advantage of their opportunities. Nick Pazos worked around a two-out single and put up a scoreless sixth, keeping the momentum in the Erskine dugout. In the bottom half of the inning, David Hernandez gave the Fleet their first lead of the game with an RBI double. Ira Cliton and Parker Cassell combined to send the game to the seventh-inning stretch with the lead. Smith picked up its fourth RBI of the game in the bottom half of the seventh, doubling the Erskine lead, 8-6. Cassell continued the solid work from the Erskine bullpen in the eighth and the Fleet added another insurance run on an Armando Becerra RBI single, sending the game to the ninth with Erskine leading 9-6. Closer Johnny Hummel came on seal the win for the Fleet, but issued a pair of walks as LMU brought the tying run to the plate with just one out. But, Hummel flashed the leather with a phenomenal behind-the-back snag on a hard chopper back up the middle, starting a game-ending double play and finishing a 9-6 win for the Fleet.

THE PLAYER
Christian Rivera went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and four runs scored. The junior hit a pair of doubles and had an opposite field solo home run in the first inning. He also stole a base and made a couple of nice plays defensively in his first start at third base this season.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine stays home this weekend as they welcome conference foe, Belmont Abbey College (10-3, 0-3 CC) to town for a three-game series starting Friday at 2 p.m. Belmont Abbey has won the last three series against the Fleet.

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