DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (21-20, 15-10 CC) defeated Barton College (7-26, 5-20 CC) by a score of 15-11 at Grier Field on Friday to begin a three-game series.

After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, the Fleet scored in each of their final eight frames, including a four-run eighth that started with Stephen Kriner's lead off home run to break the tie at 11.

THE ESSENTIALS 
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Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Back at home for another big conference series, it was the visiting Bulldogs who threw an early punch, scoring three times in the top of the first inning to put the Fleet in an early hole. However, Ethan Wilford and Jared Guell's relief efforts stemmed the tide and Carson Yates' RBI groundout got the Fleet on the board in the second, and Danny Villafane's sacrifice fly in the third made it a one-run game. Barton scored again in the top of the fourth, but a no-doubt two-run home run off the bat of Pierce Radke tied the game. After Guell worked a scoreless top of the fifth, Drew Potts' RBI single in the bottom half gave Erskine its first lead of the day. That lead was short-lived, though, as Barton homered twice in the sixth to go back in front. However, the Fleet did not flinch and went back to work in the bottom half of the frame, starting with a base hit from Ricky Dober that led to an error which allowed Radke to score. Villafane followed with an RBI double, and then Noah Hill launched a two-run blast of his own as Erskine answered a Barton four-spot with four runs of its own to lead 9-8 after six innings. RBIs from Dober and Hill in the seventh helped extend the Fleet's lead to 11-8. But, Barton refused to go quietly and a three-run home run from the visitors in the eighth spoiled what was an excellent outing from Kendall Brewer and tied the game again. Knotted at 11, the Fleet had an immediate answer again, this time only needing one pitch to regain their lead. Stephen Kriner, who entered in as a defensive replacement in the seventh, unloaded on the first pitch he saw all day, sending it over the batters' eye in straightaway center field for what would be the game-winning home run. Radke, Villafane, and Hill all drove in more runs later on in the eighth to provide some insurance, and Kyle Knoll worked a scoreless ninth, giving the Fleet an exhilirating 15-11 win to open the weekend.

THE PLAYER
The top six in the Fleet's lineup were all excellent on Friday, but arguably none more so than Pierce Radke, who was 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Radke's game-tying home run in the fourth was his second big fly of the season and Friday marked his second four-hit game of the season.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine and Barton finish their weekend tilt with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon at Grier Field.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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