DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (2-7, 1-0 CC) defeated Ferrum College (1-2, 0-1 CC) by a score of 6-5 in 10 innings at Grier Field on Friday afternoon in the Fleet's 2026 conference opener.

Erskine trailed 5-1 in the middle stages of the contest but used a four-run seventh to draw level and an outstanding relief effort from Larson McMaster to force extra innings. Then, Andrew Tabares' pinch-hit walk-off single gave the Fleet a win in their first Conference Carolinas game of the year.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Continuing a nine-game home stand and starting conference play on Friday, Erskine wasted no time getting out to an early lead thanks to an RBI single from Pierce Radke in the first inning. But, Ferrum responded with a four-run second inning and added another in the fifth to put the Fleet in a 5-1 hole at the stretch. Erskine's offense cooled off after its first-inning run but came roaring back to life in the bottom of the seventh, capitalizing on mistakes to fight back into the game. Ricky Dober and Danny Villafane each doubled to start the frame, and then an error brought Villafane around to make it 5-3. A wild pitch a few batters later scored Noah Hill to get Erskine within a run, and then Mason McManus worked a bases-loaded walk to cap the inning and tie the game at 5. Larson McMaster, who took over on the mound in relief of starter Scott Hardy to begin the sixth inning, went back out for the eighth and ninth innings, posting two more zeroes to send the game to extra innings. McMaster gave way to Jared Guell in the top of the tenth, who navigated around some trouble on the basepaths to keep the game tied and give the Fleet another chance to walk it off in the bottom half. Dober started the inning by working a walk before being lifted for Matthew Dumas on the basepaths. Villafane followed with a sacrifice bunt that moved Dumas into scoring position, and then Hill was intentionally walked. Then, the Fleet turned to their bench once more and called on Andrew Tabares to bat the in the crucial moment, and Tabares delivered with an opposite-field single that brought Dumas home and give the Fleet a thrilling win in their conference and series opener.

THE PLAYER
It's hard to not highlight the walk-off hero Andrew Tabares, but Larson McMaster's effort on the mound played a key role in Erskine's late rally to force extra innings before the walk-off win. McMaster tossed a career-high four innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit and no runs, while striking out four to stem the tide for the Fleet in the middle innings before the offense made its push.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine and Ferrum finish the weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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