DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (23-20, 17-10 CC) defeated Barton College (7-28, 5-22 CC) in both games of a doubleheader to wrap up a three-game series at Grier Field on Saturday.

Erskine saved it for late in both games of the day, using a four-run sixth to steal the opener and Danny Villafane's walk-off sacrifice fly capped a three-run ninth in the finale.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Erskine 7-4 Barton (Final / 7 innings)
Pierce Radke's RBI double opened the scoring in the very first inning, and after Barton got on the board in the second, Adrian Rolon's RBI single in the fourth put the Fleet back in front. Drew Potts added a sacrifice fly later in the frame to give the Fleet a 3-1 lead. However, the Bulldogs hit a solo home run in the fifth and then got a go-ahead two-run single in the top of the sixth. Now trailing for the first time in the game at 4-3, the Fleet had an immediate answer. Potts' second run-scoring hit in as many at-bats tied the game at four, and then a wild pitch allowed Stephen Kriner to score the go-ahead run. Danny Villafane provided some insurance with a two-run single to cap the inning, and Kyle Knoll faced the minimum in a scoreless top of the seventh to seal a series win for the Fleet.

Game 2: Erskine 5-4 Barton
The series finale was controlled by starting pitching, with the Fleet getting an excellent outing from Larson McMaster, who posted a bunch of zeroes outside of one inning. However, the Fleet offense was held in check all the way until the sixth inning, when an RBI double from Ricky Dober finally gave the Fleet a breakthrough. Stephen Kriner followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Jack Luthren and cut the Fleet's deficit in half, now trailing 4-2. Heading into the seventh inning, McMaster handed the ball off to the bullpen and Brandon Fears was dominant the rest of the way, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. But, the Fleet still trailed 4-2 going into the bottom of the ninth and needed a rally to earn a series sweep. Kriner and Adrian Rolon were each hit by pitch to start the rally, and then an infield single from Drew Potts loaded the bases with no outs. Mason McManus lined a single into left field that scored a pair of runs and tied the game at four, still with no outs and the winning run in the form of Potts at third base. After a lineout, Danny Villafane lifted a fly ball to deep center field, plenty far enough for Potts to tag and score the game-winning run that clinched a series sweep for the Fleet.

THE PLAYER
Danny Villafane recorded a hit in both games of the doubleheader, and had the biggest at-bat of the weekend, with his walk-off sacrifice fly in game three of the weekend sealing a sweep for Erskine. The junior shortstop also had a two-run single in the sixth inning of the first game of the day that gave the Fleet some cushion for the final frame.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine has another open mid-week, so the Fleet will not be in action again until they start a three-game series with No. 8 Francis Marion University (34-8, 22-5 CC) on Friday at 3 p.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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