DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College softball team (15-8, 5-3 CC) was  swept in a doubleheader against the Conference Carolinas leaders, Lees-McRae College (19-11, 8-2 CC) at the Erskine Softball Complex on Friday afternoon. The Fleet lost Game 1 by a score of 8-3, and their comeback attempt in Game 2 fell just short, 9-7.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Lees-McRae 8-3 Erskine
After a pair of scoreless innings to start the afternoon, Lees-McRae took control of the opening game, scoring in four consecutive innings to take a 7-0 lead. Hailey Watson got Erskine on the board with a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth, but after another Bobcats run in the top of the seventh, the Fleet trailed 8-2 heading into their final at-bat. However, Erskine refused to go quietly as they loaded the bases for Maddie Ingram who singled to left field, scoring Anslee Pittman, and meaning the tying run was in the on-deck circle. But, that was as close as the Fleet got, as they were beaten 8-3 in Game 1.

Game 2: Lees-McRae 9-7 Erskine
A three-run home run from the visitors in the top of the second inning gave them an early lead. But, Erskine wasted no time answering back as a Gabby Burroughs RBI double in the bottom of the second got the Fleet on the board and then a Kyndall Chandler two-run home run tied the game at 3 after three innings. The Bobcats regained the lead in the fourth inning, but Katie Spires crossed home on a wild pitch in the fifth, tying the game at 4. But, the conference leaders kept scoring, as LMC plated four runs in the sixth to go back in front. Summer Nelsen got half of those runs back in the bottom half with a two-run home run that she rifled over the scoreboard in left center field, making it an 8-6 game. A few batters later, Chandler's sacrifice fly cut the deficit to just one run, heading into the seventh. The Bobcats scored an insurance run in the top half of the seventh, but Erskine still brought the tying run to the plate in their final at-bat. However, Erskine was unable to complete the comeback, falling 9-7 in Game 2.

THE PLAYER
Kyndall Chandler had just one hit, but it was a game-tying home run in the third inning of Game 2. Chandler had quality at-bats throughout the doubleheader, drawing a pair of walks in Game 1, and also picking up an RBI on a sacrifice fly in Game 2.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet take on another top-4 team in the conference on Saturday afternoon, hosting King University (18-17, 6-4 CC) for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

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