AIKEN, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (28-18, 13-12 CC) was defeated by USC Aiken (29-18, 19-8 PBC) by a score of 6-5 at Roberto Hernandez Stadium on Tuesday evening.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
An Armando Becerra single followed by walks from Dale Francis, Jr. and Ashby Smith loaded the bases for the Fleet in the top of the first inning. And Erskine cashed in the early threat thanks to a Dalton Boyd two-run single. But, USC Aiken answered with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half as the game was tied at 2 after just one inning. Both starting pitchers settled into the game, with Harry Bernard putting up zeroes in his next three frames on the mound. Then, in the fourth inning, Boyd struck again, launching his ninth home run of the season to put Erskine back in front, 3-2. The Pacers, though, scored three times in the next inning as Erskine trailed 5-3 after five innings. Christian Rivera and Tyler Smith each singled to start the Erskine sixth, and Boyd cut the deficit in half with an RBI groundout, as he drove in each of the Fleet's first four runs. Cooper Guest took over on the mound in the bottom half of the sixth and breezed through his first two innings of work, keeping the Fleet within a run. Then, in the top of the eighth, back-to-back singles from Rivera and Francis, Jr. set up a Fleet threat. With two runners on and two outs, Tariq Bacon delivered a game-tying RBI single, scoring Francis, Jr. who just slid in underneath the tag as the Fleet came back to level things at 5. But, USC Aiken regained the lead with a run in the bottom half, meaning Erskine needed a run in the top of the ninth to continue the game. Juan Jaime led off the frame by drawing a walk and then Dontae Wade ripped a single through the right side, but the Fleet were unable to scratch across the would-be game-tying run as they fell by a narrow 6-5 scoreline.

THE PLAYER
Dalton Boyd was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs at the plate, driving in each of the first four Erskine runs in the game.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine wraps up the regular season at home with a vital three-game series against Emmanuel College (24-22, 12-14 CC) that begins Friday at 2 p.m. The Fleet swept the Lions in a four-game series in their last trip to Due West back in 2021.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

    Visit the Official Home of Erskine Athletics at www.erskinesports.com
  
    Follow us on Social Media – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Photos