DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College softball team (4-18, 1-3 CC) split a doubleheader against Barton College (12-12, 3-1 CC) at the Erskine Softball Complex on Saturday.

After dropping the first game, Erskine responded in a huge way, leading for most of game 2, and sophomore Gabby Burroughs cranked a walk-off home run to seal the win and series split for the Fleet.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Barton 14-2 Erskine 
Barton scored three times in the opening frame as the Fleet dug themselves into an early hole. But, Erskine settled in and got right back into the game thanks to a third-inning, two-run home run from Gabby Burroughs to cut the deficit to just a run. However, the Bulldogs answered right back and continued to tack on runs throughout the opener, pulling away down the stretch as the Fleet were downed in Game 1.

Game 2: Erskine 6-5 Barton
A first-inning home run from the visitors put them in front early on, but starting pitcher Payton Cox and the Fleet righted the ship shortly after. Cox posted zeroes in each of the next two frames and the Fleet offense came to life in the bottom of third. A Hailey Patterson RBI single tied the game at 1, followed by a run-scoring single from Kyndall Chandler to give Erskine its first lead of the day, and then Patterson eventually scored on a Gabby Burroughs base hit as Erskine opened up a 3-1 lead after three innings. The Bulldogs cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth, but the Fleet lineup had found its rhythm and went back to work in the bottom half. Camryn Jordan delivered an RBI single to get that run right back, and moments later, an RBI from Amber Clark extended Erskine's lead to 5-2. Barton responded and clawed its way back into the game, though, scoring twice in the sixth and tying the game with a run in the seventh. However, Cox barred down and stranded the go-ahead run in scoring position, giving the Fleet a chance to win it with one swing. And, Burroughs did just that, unloading on the third pitch of the inning for a no-doubt, walk-off home run as the Fleet got a well-earned series split of Barton.

THE PLAYER
Sophomore catcher Gabby Burroughs provided the heroics for the Fleet with a walk-off home run in Game 2 of the day. On the day, Burroughs was 5-for-7 at the plate with two home runs and four RBIs, catalyzing the Fleet offense.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine goes on the road for the first time in league play to take on Southern Wesleyan University (13-11, 3-1 CC) for a doubleheader on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Erskine swept the Warriors last season and has won an impressive 16 of its last 19 meetings with SWU.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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