DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (15-15, 5-10 CC) lost two out of three games in a series against Belmont Abbey College (20-11, 11-7 CC) at Grier Field over the weekend.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Belmont Abbey 15-5 Erskine
Back at home for a vital weekend series against a hot Belmont Abbey team, the Fleet started fast in the series opener with Dylan Wanat catalyzing a two-run first inning. Josean Sanchez's RBI double in the next frame gave Erskine an early 3-0 lead. After the Crusaders scored four times to take the lead in the third, Erskine responded with a game-tying solo home run from Jorge Pascual to level the score at 4 after three innings. But, Abbey answered with a pair of runs in the top of fourth to go back in front. Jude Littrell's run-scoring single in the bottom half got Erskine within a run at 6-5, but the visitors took control in the latter half of the game as Erskine dropped the opener.

Game 2: Belmont Abbey 6-1 Erskine (Final / 7 innings)
In the second game of the series, it was Belmont Abbey who started fast, scoring in each of their first three innings at the plate. Noah Hill's RBI single in the third inning got the Fleet on the board, but the Erskine offense was slowed by a quality start from the Crusaders' pitcher.

Game 3: Erskine 7-1 Belmont Abbey
In the series finale, the Fleet got an outstanding start on the mound from sophomore Blake Holshouser, who pitched into the seventh inning and allowed just one run on four hits. Offensively, the Fleet had their best performance of the weekend as well, starting with an RBI double from Wilder Puertas in the second inning to open the scoring. Two batters later, Josh Hungler delivered a run-scoring single to make it 2-0 and Quinn Allen's three-run blast in the third opened up an early 5-0 advantage for the Fleet. Jorge Pascual added a pair of sacrifice flies in the fifth and seventh innings, respectively, and great work from Holshouser as well as a pair of scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Ethan Wilford helped the Fleet take the final game of the series.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine is on the road throughout next week, starting with a mid-week contest at Limestone University (14-17, 8-10 SAC) on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

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