WILSON, N.C. – The Erskine College softball team (13-6, 2-1 CC) swept a doubleheader against Barton College (10-12, 1-3 CC) at Jeffries Field on Saturday afternoon. Hailey Watson was the hero for the Fleet in Game 1, driving in the tying and winning runs for a 6-5 win, and then an eight-run third inning led the Fleet to a 9-7 victory in Game 2.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 6-5 Barton (Final / 8 innings)
Brooke Patterson gave the Fleet a 2-0 lead with a two-run single in the third inning, but Barton scored twice in their half of the third and again in the fourth, meaning the Fleet trailed 4-2. A wild pitch and a Maddie Ingram sacrifice fly tied the game at 4 in the fifth inning. However, the Bulldogs regained the lead with a run of their own in the bottom half, so Erskine was down to its last six outs trailing by a run. Kenzie Eagleman led off the sixth with a single, and was pinch run for by Savannah Koester. Koester took second base on a wild pitch, and Hailey Watson, who entered earlier in the game, delivered with an RBI single that tied the game. Both teams were retired in order in the seventh, so for the second consecutive day, the Fleet began a doubleheader with an extra inning game. But, this time Erskine cashed in the courtesy runner, as Watson drove in Eagleman, and Kaley Ingle recorded two huge strikeouts in the bottom half, giving Erskine a 6-5 win in Game 1.

Game 2: Erskine 9-7 Barton
Barton opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single, but the Fleet offense came roaring to life in the third. Hayden Bradley led off the frame with a double, and scored on an RBI single from Kyndall Chandler that tied the game. A few batters later, Maddie Ingram's RBI single gave Erskine its first lead of the game. Gabby Burroughs followed with a run-scoring single of her own, and then a a two-run double from Peyton Rabon opened up a 5-1 lead for Erskine. But, the Fleet were far from done, as Addy Crawford ripped a two-run double of her own and scored on an Amber Clark single as Erskine exploded for eight runs in the inning, and now led 8-1. Barton attempted to rally back, getting as close as 8-7, but a Brooke Patterson RBI single gave Erskine some insurance, and Kaley Ingle sealed the win on the mound, retiring the last five batters of the game.

THE PLAYER
Hailey Watson was the hero for the Fleet in Game 1, as her RBI single in the sixth inning tied the game and forced extra innings. Then, Watson delivered again with a sacrifice fly in the eighth that scored the winning run.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet return home and start a 12-game home stretch spanning 13 days that begins on Friday with a doubleheader against UNC Pembroke (10-17, 3-1 CC) at 2 p.m.

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