GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (1-2) took both games of a doubleheader against Lander University (1-2) at Dolny Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Ashby Smith delivered the heroics in Game 1 with a walk-off, two-run home run in the 10th inning to seal a 9-8 win. In Game 2 of the doubleheader and the rubber match of the series, Joe Alegre tossed 6 and 1/3 innings of one-run baseball and struck out 11 batters to give the Fleet a 5-2 win.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 9-8 Lander (Final / 10 innings)
Following a heartbreaking loss in the series opener last night, the Fleet wasted no time jumping out to an early lead thanks to a two-run double from Ben Maskin in the very first inning. Lander responded with a five-spot in the second inning to take a 5-2 lead. Daniel Hernandez got a run back in the bottom half with a run-scoring double of his own, but Lander regained its three-run lead in the next inning. The score remained 6-3 through the next few frames before the Fleet embarked on their comeback. In the sixth inning, Ashby Smith delivered a sacrifice fly before Hernandez picked up another run-scoring hit to make it a 6-5 game. Connor Harrison came out of the Erskine bullpen for the seventh inning and set down the Bearcats in order, keeping the momentum with the Fleet. And Erskine took full advantage after the stretch. Jude Littrell led off the inning with a single, and Armando Becerra followed with a monstrous home run down the right field line as Erskine went back in front, 7-6. Lander tied the game with a run in the eighth, but after Parker Cassell set down the Bearcats in order in the ninth, this rivalry went to extra innings for the second consecutive day. Lander struck first in the top of the 10th inning with a sacrifice fly, meaning the Fleet needed at least one run to stay alive. Maskin ripped a one-out single through the left side, setting the stage for Smith, representing the tying run. The senior launched a high fly ball to deep left field that just snuck over the wall, as the Fleet walked off Lander on its own field with an 8-7 win in Game 1 of the doubleheader.

Game 2: Erskine 5-2 Lander
Riding the wave off Smith's walk-off, Erskine picked up right where it left off on a Dalton Boyd RBI single to open the scoring. Smith drove in the Fleet's second run thanks to a Bearcats error, before Hernandez made it 3-0 Fleet with a run-scoring single after two and a half innings. And that appeared to be more than enough run support for Erskine starting pitcher, Joe Alegre who dazzled in the rubber match of the series. Lander got a run back in the bottom of the third on a Fleet error, but Alegre shut down the Bearcats, tossing 6 and 1/3 innings and allowing just the one run and totaling a career-best 11 strikeouts. Christian Rivera launched his first home run of the season with a solo blast in the fifth inning and Becerra added a sacrifice fly for some more insurance in the eighth. Caleb Dix and Harry Bernard came out of the Erskine bullpen to record the final eight outs of the game as the Fleet cruised to a 5-2 win in the rubber match of the opening series of 2023.

THE PLAYERS
Ashby Smith had just one hit on the day, but it couldn't have been a more clutch one, with a walk-off two-run home run in Game 1 of the series. After the offenses dominated the first two games of the series, sophomore Joe Alegre stole the show in Game 3, pitching 6 and 1/3 innings, allowing just six hits and one run, while recording a career-high 11 strikeouts as he picked up the win in the rubber match of the series.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine continues its road trip to begin the 2023 season as they make the trip to Augusta University (1-1) on Tuesday at 2 p.m. The Fleet rallied for a 3-2 win in their visit to Augusta last season, scoring all three of their runs in the ninth inning.
 
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