FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The Erskine College softball team (5-25, 2-10 CC) split a doubleheader against Emmanuel University (21-20, 8-8 CC) at the EU Softball Field on Saturday.

After dropping a heartbreaker to begin the day, the Fleet responded in a big way. Kyndall Chandler drove in all three Erskine runs, including a game-winning, two-run blast in the sixth inning and Payton Cox tossed a complete game gem to take the nightcap.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Emmanuel 7-5 Erskine
On the road and facing the reigning Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, Erskine fell into an early hole, as Emmanuel struck first on a three-run home run in the opening inning. Starter Kaylee Odum settled in after a rocky first, but the Fleet offense struggled to climb their way back into the game through the early innings. Then, the Erskine bats came roaring to life in the fifth, starting with a leadoff blast from Gabby Burroughs to get the Fleet on the board. A few batters later, Summer Nelsen came off the bench and delivered an RBI single to get Erskine within a run. Moments later, Hailey Patterson singled home another run and suddenly the Fleet were level but not done yet. Defensive interference allowed both Erskine baserunners to move up 90 feet, and a sacrifice fly from Kenzie Eagleman plated Emily Johnson to fire Erskine in front, 4-3. A few pitches later, Amber Clark singled through the right side, scoring Patterson and capping a huge five-run inning from the Fleet offense. However, the Lions hit two-run home runs in the sixth and seventh innings as the Fleet dropped a heartbreaker in the opener.

Game 2: Erskine 3-2 Emmanuel
The Fleet started slow again in Game 2, as Emmanuel opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning, forcing the Fleet to play from behind once again. But this time, Erskine wasted no time starting their comeback efforts. Hailey Patterson was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the third and eventually came around to score on a double from Kyndall Chandler, cutting the deficit in half. Similar to Odum in Game 1, Game 2 starter, Payton Cox, settled in after a shaky start, surrendering nothing more than just a walk through three scoreless frames in the middle innings to keep Erskine within a run. In the sixth inning, the Fleet finally found their breakthrough. Savannah Koester led off the frame with an infield single and then Chandler delivered again, an opposite-field, two-run home run to flip a one-run deficit on its head and hand Erskine a 3-2 lead. Cox continued her dominance in the circle, setting down 11 Lions in a row at one point, before a seventh-inning single led to some nervous moments in the final frame with the Fleet still clinging to a one-run lead. A passed ball allowed the tying run to move into scoring position, but Cox tightened the screws, recording a groundout and strikeout to complete a game victory in the circle.

THE PLAYER
After a quiet performance in the opener, senior Kyndall Chandler provided all of the offense in Game 2. Chandler went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI double in the third inning to open the scoring and a game-winning, two-run home run in the sixth.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Saturday concluded an eight-game road trip for Erskine, who return home to take on Young Harris College (22-16, 9-5 CC) for a doubleheader on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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