AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Erskine College baseball team (3-1) defeated Augusta University (1-3) at Jaguar Field on Tuesday afternoon. Christian Rivera homered for the second time in as many games and a pair of Fleet runs scored on wild pitches in the ninth inning proved to be the difference in a 7-6 victory.

THE ESSENTIALS 
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 7-6 Augusta
Erskine was phenomenal in the first inning at Lander this weekend, and the Fleet offense continued to strike early at Augusta on Tuesday. Ashby Smith's base hit back up the middle was the third Erskine single of the inning, scoring Armando Becerra for the game's first run. Augusta responded with a run in each of its first two innings at the plate and took a 2-1 lead. But, Erskine starter Harry Bernard settled in and the Fleet offense eventually broke through. After back-to-back walks to begin the top of the 6th, Smith delivered again with another run-scoring hit to tie the game. Tyler Smith followed with a sacrifice fly and Erskine went back in front. Bernard's day was done after five quality innings, and thanks to the Fleet's work in the top of the sixth, he departed in line for the win. Daniel Vos took over in the bottom half and set down the Jaguars in order. Christian Rivera hit a huge two-run homerun in the seventh as the Fleet opened up a 5-2 lead at stretch time. Vos retired the side in order once again in the seventh and eighth innings, and the Fleet got what would end up being much needed insurance in the ninth thanks to a pair of wild pitches, which scored Becerra and Ben Maskin, giving the Fleet a 7-2 lead, needing three outs for the victory. But, Augusta did not go quietly, scoring four times to make it a one-run game. Erskine turned to its closer, Johnny Hummel, and he stranded the tying and winning runs on base, sealing a 7-6 road win.

THE PLAYER
Following his walk-off heroics on Saturday, Ashby Smith led the Fleet offensively again on Tuesday, totaling four hits and a pair of RBIs in the heart of the Fleet lineup.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine stays on the road as they begin a weekend trip in the Sunshine State, starting with a matchup against Lynn University (1-1-1) on Thursday at 2 p.m. It will be the first-ever meeting between the teams and starts a stretch for the Fleet at three different stadiums in three consecutive days.
 
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