FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The Erskine College softball team (5-15, 3-3 CC) defeated Emmanuel University (3-17, 3-5 CC) in both games of a doubleheader at the Emmanuel Softball Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Ellie Rapson's three-run blast sparked a five-run seventh inning in the Fleet's game 1 win and Savannah Koester delivered a game-winning RBI single in the sixth inning of Game 2.

THE ESSENTIALS 
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Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 7-2 Emmanuel
Wrapping up a road trip to open conference play, the Fleet took the game's first lead with an RBI single from Emily Brown in the second and then Hannah Lewis scored on an error in the fourth to double the Erskine lead. Emmanuel scored in each of their next two at-bats to tie the game but Layla Clayton took over in the circle and kept the game level until the seventh when the Fleet bats exploded. After leadoff singles from Kennedy Crouch and Kara West, Ellie Rapson launched her first big fly of the season, a go-ahead three-run blast to regain Erskine its lead. Lewis' RBI double and a sacrifice fly by Summer Nelsen provided some insurance, which was more than enough for Clayton, who earned her first collegiate save.

Game 2: Erskine 2-1 Emmanuel
Pitching stole the show in the back half of the doubleheader, and a combined effort from starter Kinsley Kay and reliever Layla Clayton held Emmanuel to just one run. The Fleet trailed by that 1-0 score until the sixth inning, when late-inning heroics provided a boost for the Erskine offense again. A pair of Lions' errors allowed pinch-runner Gracie Merrell to race around the bases and tie the game, and then moments later, Savannah Koester delivered a go-ahead RBI single that proved to be the winner as Clayton recorded the final six outs in the circle without allowing a hit.

THE PLAYER
The Fleet had game-winning hits from Ellie Rapson and Savannah Koester on the day, but pitcher Layla Clayton shined in both games of the doubleheader. In the opener, Clayton earned the save, pitching two and two-thirds inning of no-hit softball, allowing just one of the nine batters she faced to reach base. In the second game, she came on in the second inning and tossed five and two-thirds innings, allowing just one run and navigating out of jams to keep the Fleet close until the Erskine offense scored twice in the sixth to go in front. From then, Clayton escaped a jam in the bottom half and set down Emmanuel in order in the seventh to seal a doubleheader sweep.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine has the weekend off, so the Fleet won't be in action again until they host Southern Wesleyan University (15-7, 4-1 CC) on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

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