DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (10-3, 2-1 CC) defeated Belmont Abbey College (10-4, 0-4 CC) by a score of 7-6 at Grier Field on Friday afternoon in the Fleet's home conference opener and first of three against the Crusaders this weekend.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Belmont Abbey opened the scoring in the second inning, and after an unfortunate line drive double play ended an Erskine threat in the bottom half, the visitors added a second run in the third to take an early 2-0 lead. But, Erskine's offense came to life in the middle innings. Dale Francis, Jr. roped a one-out single back up the middle, and after the ball got past the Crusaders center fielder, Francis, Jr. ended up on third base. Dalton Boyd followed with an RBI groundout to get the Fleet on the board. Starting pitcher, Joe Alegre, set down Belmont Abbey in order in the top of the fifth, and for the second consecutive the Fleet bats exploded in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Juan Jaime led off the frame by drawing a walk and was followed by a David Hernandez single. Armando Becerra drove in Jaime with a single through the right side that tied the game at 2. Moments later, Ashby Smith crushed an RBI double off the left field wall, scoring Rolando Lujo and giving Erskine its first lead. Then, with two outs, Francis, Jr. lined a two-run single into left field as the Fleet scored four times in the frame and took a 5-2 lead. Belmont Abbey inched closer with singular runs in the sixth and seventh innings but left the bases loaded in both frames thanks to huge outs from Caleb Dix and Parker Cassell out of the Erskine bullpen. In the bottom of the seventh, it was Francis, Jr. who delivered once again with a mammoth solo home run, giving Erskine a 6-4 lead. Connor Harrison came on for the top of the eighth and cruised through his inning of work, setting down the Crusaders in order. Cal Kryska led off the bottom half of the eighth with a pinch-hit single and came around to score on an Ashby Smith double that gave Erskine some much-needed insurance, leading 7-4 heading into the ninth inning. The Crusaders hit a two-run home run in the ninth, getting back within a run, but Johnny Hummel closed the door there with a pair of strikeouts, sealing a 7-6 series-opening win for the Fleet.

THE PLAYER
Dale Francis, Jr. continued to shine in the middle of the Erskine order, going 4-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three driven in to lead the Fleet offense. Friday marked the second time already this season that Francis, Jr. has recorded four hits in a game, also reaching that mark in Game 1 last weekend at King.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine and Belmont Abbey wrap up their series with a doubleheader tomorrow, starting at 11 a.m.

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