DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College softball team (6-3) split a doubleheader against Coker University (10-4) at the Erskine Softball Complex on Wednesday afternoon. Coker took Game 1 by a score of 9-6 before the Fleet offense exploded for a 12-7 victory in Game 2.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Coker 9-6 Erskine
Maddie Ingram opened the scoring with a towering solo home run in the second inning, giving the Fleet an early 1-0 lead. Coker scored three times in the top of the fourth and took its first lead of the game, 3-1, but Erskine wasted no time getting back into the game. In the bottom half of the inning, Summer Nelsen cut the deficit in half with an RBI single. Then, in the sixth inning, Kenzie Eagleman launched an opposite field solo home run that tied the game at 3, heading into the final inning. In the seventh, the game turned into a shootout as the Cobras scored six times in their half of the inning, taking a 9-3 lead. But, the Fleet refused to go quietly in the bottom half. Peyton Rabon started the comeback attempt with a solo home run. Mary Elizabeth Ballard followed with a single and came around to score on a Kyndall Chandler RBI double. After Brooke Patterson worked a walk, Ingram ripped a single the other way, scoring Amber Clark and bringing the winning run to the plate with just one out. But, the Erskine rally fell just short as the next two batters were retired to end the game.

Game 2: Erskine 12-7 Coker
Despite not being able to complete the comeback in Game 1, the Fleet offense had momentum heading into Game 2 and they broked through in a massive way. After a scoreless first inning from Nelsen on the mound, Ballard ripped a leadoff double into the left center field gap that got Erskine going. Ballard came around to score on another run-scoring single from Chandler. Nelsen and Ingram both reached base, loading the bases for Eagleman with just one out. And the Erskine third baseman left the park again, this time with a line-drive grand slam over the right field fence as Erskine jumped out to an early 5-0 lead. But, Coker responded with a five-spot of its own in the top of the third to tie the game. After seeing its early lead disappear, the Fleet responded well and went back in front in the bottom half of the third, thanks to a two-run double from Hayden Bradley. Coker got a run back in the top of the fourth, but the Fleet put up another crooked number in the bottom half of the frame. Nelsen started the inning with a bang, a leadoff home run to left center field. Ingram and Eagleman followed with singles, before Bradley drove in another run on an RBI groundout, and then Ballard launched her first big fly of the season, giving Erskine a commanding 11-6 lead. Kaley Ingle, who started Game 1 on the mound, came on in the fifth inning to try to close out the win. Coker loaded the bases with just one out, but Ingle got a strikeout and a flyout to dance out of the inning unscathed. Patterson joined in on the hit parade with a towering solo home run in the Erskine half of the fifth. Ingle recorded the final six outs, picking up her first save of the season, and sealing a 12-7 victory in Game 2.

THE PLAYER
Kenzie Eagleman went 4-for-7 at the plate on the day, homering in each game of the doubleheader and tallying 5 RBIs and 4 runs scored to lead the Fleet offense.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine will have the rest of the week off, before going on the road for its first traditional doubleheader away from home this season next Wednesday, when the Fleet take on Augusta University (11-3) at 1 p.m. It will be the Fleet's first visit to Augusta since 2018.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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