FLORENCE, S.C. – The Erskine College developmental baseball team won a pair of games in the final round of the 2024 Conference Carolinas Developmental Championship at Sparrow Stadium on Monday. The Fleet had to come from behind in the semifinals against Barton in the afternoon, but rallied late and then used a huge offensive explosion early in the championship game against Southern Wesleyan en route to becoming back-to-back champions in the event.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 5-4 Barton
Taking part in the second semifinal of the day, Erskine took an early in the second inning after Banks Starbuck led off being hit by a pitch and came around to score the game's first run on an RBI from Matthew Martin. However, Barton came to life in the middle innings and the Fleet were staring at a 4-1 deficit after five frames. Reliever Gene Blackmon came on out of the bullpen and tossed a scoreless top of the sixth, and Erskine responded in a huge way in the bottom half. Kipp Thornton led off with a pinch-hit single and came around to score on an RBI base hit from Brandon Abdala. A few wild pitches later on allowed Zion Clonts to come all the way around the bases and get the Fleet within a run. Then, with the tying run 90 feet away, Mason Holman delivered with a clutch, pinch-hit double that brought home Abdala to draw Erskine level. A few pitches later, Logan Palma singled to left field, scoring Holman and capping a four-run sixth to put the Fleet just three outs away from advancing to the championship. Blackmon went back out to the mound hoping to seal the deal and emphatically struck out the side as Erskine came from behind late to win the semifinal over Barton, 5-4.

Game 2: Erskine 12-11 Southern Wesleyan
Riding the wave of the rally in the afternoon's semifinal, the Fleet bats came flying out of the gates in the championship game against Southern Wesleyan. Zion Clonts led off the game with a hit by pitch and scored the game's first run on a Brandon Abdala base knock. Then, Banks Starbuck ripped a triple into the right center field gap, plating Abdala, before a Ryan Turner RBI brought home Starbuck and Erskine struck for a three-spot in its opening frame. Starting pitcher Jackson Sullivan began his evening with a scoreless frame and the Erskine offense went right back to work in the second. Matthew Martin roped a leadoff triple and scored moments later on a Zach Gore base hit. Gore and Clonts would score later in the frame and the Fleet opened up a 6-0 lead. After another zero from Sullivan on the mound, Erskine got three consecutive singles to start the top of the third before Gore was hit by a pitch to tally another run. Clonts and Chaz Knight each delivered two-run singles within a span of a few pitches and the Fleet had taken a commanding 11-0 advantage after two and a half innings. SWU got on the board in the bottom half, but Erskine got the run right back in the fourth, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Martin. However, the Warriors battled their way back into the game in the middle innings and got within two runs heading into the ninth. Southern Wesleyan scored another in their last at-bat, and had the tying run in scoring position, but Gene Blackmon, who got the final 10 outs of the game, tallied a huge strikeout to slam the door shut as Erskine retained its crown as the Conference Carolinas Developmental Champion for the second consecutive year.

THE PLAYER
Senior outfielder Logan Palma was named Tournament MVP after going a combined 6-for-7 with a run scored and an RBI in the semfinal and championship games. Palma had the game-winning single against Barton in the semifinal round and tallied 3-hit days in both contests on Monday in the heart of the Fleet lineup.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine closes out their developmental season in the next few weeks, and then the Fleet will begin their chase for a three-peat in the Conference Carolinas annual event.
 
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