DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College softball team (7-27, 3-17 CC) split a doubleheader against Belmont Abbey College (19-19, 6-10 CC) at the Erskine Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon.

After losing a 31-run, extra-inning marathon to begin the day, Erskine bounced back in a big way, earning a dominant 7-0 win in the back half of the doubleheader behind a complete-game shutout in the circle from Erin Redmond.

THE ESSENTIALS
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Belmont Abbey 17-14 Erskine (Final / 8 innings)
Belmont Abbey scored a run in the first inning to take an early lead, but the Fleet took control in the next few frames. A two-run double from Savannah Koester in the second gave Erskine its first lead, and then Gabby Burroughs singled Koester home to make it 3-1. In the third inning, a wild pitch and an Emily Johnson sacrifice fly extended the Fleet's lead to 5-1. But, the visitors responded with a six-run fourth inning, putting Erskine now behind, 7-5. An RBI single from Burroughs in the bottom half got Erskine back within a run, but chaos ensued in the sixth inning. Abbey hit a three-run home run in the top half, extending its lead to 10-6, before Erskine responded in a big way. Peyton Rabon got it started with a two-run blast, and Maddie Ingram followed with a solo shot as Erskine went back-to-back to trim the deficit to 10-9. And the Fleet weren't done there, as Kennedy Crouch and Johnson each reached base before Summer Nelson delivered a clutch pinch-hit RBI single to tie the game at 10. After a quiet seventh inning sent the game to extras, more chaos occurred in the eighth. Belmont Abbey scored seven times in the top half, meaning the Fleet needed a big rally in the bottom half to stay alive. Erskine didn't go quietly, starting with an RBI double from Brooke Patterson and then Johnson added an RBI single. A wild pitch and an error later in the inning got the Fleet within three, 17-14, and Erskine got the tying run to the on-deck circle, but its furious rally in the bottom of the seventh fell just short in the opener.

Game 2: Erskine 7-0 Belmont Abbey
The Fleet offense picked up right where they left off in Game 2, as a two-run home run from Maddie Ingram gave Erskine a 2-0 lead after the first inning. A bases-loaded walk from Summer Nelson in the third and a two-run blast from Gabby Burroughs in the fourth opened the Erskine lead up to 5-0, before Savannah Koester and Peyton Rabon added RBIs in the fifth. But, the story of Game 2 for the Fleet was in the circle, where freshman Erin Redmond shined throughout. Redmond went the distance, allowing just two hits over her seven innings against a hot Belmont Abbey offense that posted 17 runs in the game prior. But, Redmond pitched to contact and cruised through the contest to give the Fleet a split of the doubleheader.

THE PLAYER
Despite the offensive fireworks on the day, it's hard to overlook the performance from freshman pitcher Erin Redmond. The Westminster native pitched a complete game shutout in Erskine's game 2 victory, allowing just two hits and earning her second win of the season.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine goes on the road to take on Southern Wesleyan University (24-10, 11-5 CC) for a doubleheader on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

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