LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Erskine College baseball team (23-16, 11-11 CC) defeated the University of West Alabama (17-21, 12-12 GSC) by a score of 11-6 to begin a three-game series at Tartt Field on Friday evening. The Fleet scored in six different innings and totaled 15 hits in the victory.

THE ESSENTIALS 
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Armando Becerra led off the game with a single and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch, giving starter Joe Alegre a 1-0 lead before he took the mound. UWA tied the game in the bottom of the second, but it was short-lived as Christian Rivera led off the Erskine third with a solo home run, his team-leading 13th big fly of the season. Alegre worked around a one-out single in the bottom half, and the Fleet offense went back to work in the fourth. Juan Jaime and Logan Piedra led off the frame with base hits, and an RBI groundout from Tyler Smith added another Fleet run. Then, Dalton Boyd unloaded for a two-run home run as the Fleet opened up a 5-1 lead. The Tigers cut the lead in half with a two-run home run of their own in the bottom half. But, Erskine got those runs right back thanks to a Piedra two-run single in the fifth. A double play ball aided Alegre and the Fleet in the bottom half as the game headed to the sixth inning and the Erskine lineup continued to produce. Becerra was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, but it appeared Erskine was going to quietly until Dale Francis, Jr. hit a two-out double, scoring Becerra and making it an 8-3 game. Moments later, Ashby Smith singled home Francis, Jr. for the Fleet's ninth run of the day. Another twin killing induced by Alegre helped him navigate some traffic in the bottom half of the sixth as he delivered another quality Friday start for the Fleet. But, UWA didn't quietly, scoring twice in the seventh and once in the eighth, as the Erskine lead was trimmed to 9-6 heading to the ninth inning. Jude Littrell led off the frame with a base knock and Tyler Smith made sure the Fleet had some insurance as he hit a two-run home run and put the finishing touches on an 11-6 win for Erskine to start the weekend.

THE PLAYER
In just his fifth start of the season, catcher Logan Piedra led the way for the Erskine offense with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate, including a two-RBI single in the fifth inning. Piedra was part of a phenomenal effort from the bottom four of the Fleet lineup, who were a combined 8-for-15.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine and West Alabama wrap up their weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 12 p.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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