MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (16-14, 8-6 CC) swept Chowan University (6-23, 2-13 CC) in a three-game series at Hawkins Field over the weekend, as the Fleet have now won six straight games and eight of their last 10 conference games.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 11-3 Chowan
An infield single from Juan Jaime scored Tyler Smith and gave the Fleet a second-inning lead, but the series opener was a low-scoring affair for the first half of the contest. However, freshman starter Alex Heintz shined in Game 1, surrendering just one hit and two baserunners in his first five innings on the mound, preserving the 1-0 lead. Eventually, the Erskine offense came to life as the run-scoring singles from Christian Rivera and Dale Francis, Jr. gave Erskine some insurance, leading 4-0 after six innings. Smith and Jaime each had ABs leading to Fleet runs in the seventh, and a two-run blast from Francis, Jr. in the eighth opened an 8-0 advantage. Chowan got on the board in the bottom half, but an RBI single from Carlos Gonzalez followed by another run driven in by Francis, Jr. put the finishing touches on an 11-3 win in the series opener.

Game 2: Erskine 5-4 Chowan (Final / 7 innings)
The second game of the series came shortly after Game 1, and Erskine built on its offensive momentum down the stretch of the opener, this time using the long ball to take an early lead. A three-run home run from Ben Maskin in the second inning was followed by a Christian Rivera solo homer in the third handed Erskine a 4-0 lead. An infield single from Carlos Gonzalez and a Hawks error scored Maskin in the fourth, canceling out a Chowan run in the previous half-inning. Erskine starter Joe Alegre dealed through the majority of his afternoon and went into the seventh holding a 5-1 lead. Chowan battled back and made things interesting, but Jared Guell came on out of the bullpen and got a huge strikeout to strand the bases loaded, picking up his second save of the year and sealing a narrow 5-4 victory for the Fleet.

Game 3: Erskine 11-8 Chowan (Final / 10 innings)
Looking for a sweep on Friday, offense stole the show early and often. The Fleet scored twice in the first, thanks to RBIs from Dale Francis, Jr. and Juan Jaime, but Chowan answered with a four-spot in the bottom half of the opening frame, taking its first lead of the series. However, Erskine battled back and tied the game on a two-run single from Christian Rivera in the fourth. A wild pitch allowed the hosts to regain the lead in the sixth, but Tyler Smith tied the game again in the next half-inning with a run-scoring single. After a scoreless seventh from Cooper Guest, Francis, Jr. powered the Fleet ahead with his 11th home run of the season, as Erskine went in front, 8-6. Chowan tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom half, but Caleb Dix came on and did a wonderful job of limiting the damage to keep the game tied, and after retiring the Hawks in order in the ninth, the series finale headed to extra innings. Doubles from Carlos Gonzalez and Jorge Pascual to lead off the 10th put the Fleet on top, and Francis, Jr. delivered the punishing blow with his second big fly of the game, a two-run blast to provide some cushion. In the bottom of the 10th, Chowan opened with consecutive singles, but Nick Hyde came on out of the bullpen and set down three straight Hawks to seal an 11-8 extra-inning win and a series sweep for the Fleet.

THE PLAYER
Starting the series opener for the second consecutive weekend, freshman Alex Heintz tossed eight outstanding innings, allowing just one run on two hits and totaling a career-high 12 strikeouts, earning his fifth win of the season. Thursday also marked the third time this year Heintz has reached double digits in strikeouts in a game.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine has another mid-week off, and next up for the Fleet is a home series against perennial power, UNC Pembroke (21-9, 7-8 CC), starting Friday at 2 p.m. at Grier Field.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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