MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (11-11, 3-6 CC) was defeated by the University of Mount Olive (18-5, 10-2 CC) in all three games of their weekend series at Scarborough Field.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Mount Olive 6-3 Erskine
After matching zeroes through the first three frames, Matt Layton delivered a two-run single in the fourth to open the scoring and give the Fleet a 2-0 lead. However, UMO got on the board in the fifth and posted five runs in their half of the sixth, putting the Fleet behind 6-2. Jorge Pascual's sacrifice fly in the eighth got the Fleet a run closer and Erskine got a baserunner in the ninth, but were unable to get the tying run to the plate as they dropped the series opener.

Game 2: Mount Olive 8-6 Erskine (Final / 7 innings)
The second game of the series started disastrously for the Fleet, with Erskine finding itself in a 7-0 hole after the opening inning. However, the Fleet battled back in the shortened game of the series, starting with a run-scoring single from Dylan Wanat in the fourth, before Wanat cranked a solo home run in his next at-bat in the sixth to make it 7-3. With the Fleet trailing 8-3 in their final at-bat of the game, JT Yaccarino and Quinn Allen each totaled RBIs to help get Erskine within two, 8-6, but the Fleet were unable to overcome their slow start.

Game 3: Mount Olive 12-11 Erskine
In the series finale on Saturday, Mason McManus' RBI double canceled out a UMO run in the first, and then Josean Sanchez followed with an RBI single to put Erskine in front, 2-1. Dylan Wanat homered again in the third, doubling Erskine's lead. The Trojans tied the game in the bottom half, but Erskine quickly regained its advantage thanks to Wanat again, this time via a two-run single. But, Mount Olive scored four times in the bottom half, flipping the script and putting Erskine behind, 7-5. An RBI double from Wanat in his next at-bat was followed by an RBI groundout from Josh Hungler to tie the game after six innings. In the seventh, Wilder Puertas' infield single scored McManus, putting the Fleet back on top. And Erskine was far from done in the inning, with a sacrifice fly from Matt Layton and another run-scoring hit from Wanat. Jude Littrell's RBI in the eighth meant Erskine had an 11-7 lead, but the hosts came roaring back with a four-run eighth and another in the ninth as the Fleet lost a heartbreaker to conclude the series.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine visits non-conference foe, Claflin University (5-11-1, 0-5 PBC) on Wednesday, for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

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