DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College softball team (6-24, 2-14 CC) split a doubleheader against Young Harris College (15-19, 6-8 CC) at the Erskine Softball Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

Gabby Burroughs and Emily Johnson each hit two-run home runs in Game 1, and a complete-game performance from Payton Cox in the circle helped the Fleet to a 4-3 win in the opener.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 4-3 Young Harris
Back in action in conference play this week, Erskine got off to a flying start, thanks to a two-run blast from Gabby Burroughs in the first inning to give the Fleet an early lead. A few innings later, Emily Johnson launched a two-run home run of her own, extending Erskine's lead to 4-0 after four innings. In the circle, starting pitcher Payton Cox ran into a bit of a trouble in the fifth, but was outstanding throughout the afternoon, going the distance in the opener. Cox escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth to preserve Erskine's one-run lead and cruised through the seventh, earning her first victory of the season.

Game 2: Young Harris 8-7 Erskine
In the back half of the doubleheader, the visitors threw an early punch, with a four-run top of the first inning. But, Erskine quickly responded in the bottom half with an RBI single from Peyton Rabon to get the Fleet on the board, and then a two-run single from Kennedy Crouch a few batters later, as Erskine trailed 4-3 after one chaotic inning. That scoreline remained the same until YHC posted another four-run inning in the fourth, putting the Fleet behind, 8-3. Again, the Fleet went on the comeback trail, this time in the sixth inning. Amber Clark and Emily Johnson each singled to begin the frame, and then Savannah Koester and Gabby Burroughs were each hit by a pitch to bring Clark home. Rabon and Brooke Patterson each followed with RBI singles to get the Fleet to within two, 8-6, with still only one out. Maddie Ingram was then hit by a pitch, bringing home Mckinna Taylor to make it 8-7. But, a line-drive double play brought the inning to an abrupt end with the Fleet still trailing by a run. The Fleet got the tying run on base in the seventh, but were unable to complete the comeback.

THE PLAYER
Junior shortstop Emily Johnson tallied a hit in both games of the doubleheader, including a two-run home run in the fourth inning of Game 1, which proved to be the difference in the Fleet's 4-3 win in the opener.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine is back in action at home for a doubleheader against Converse University (13-23, 5-7 CC) on Friday at 2 p.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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