DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College baseball team (23-21, 17-11 CC) was defeated by No. 8 Francis Marion University (36-8, 23-5 CC) by a score of 19-15 at Grier Field on Friday afternoon.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Starting a seven-game gauntlet to conclude the regular season, the Fleet were the ones who opened the scoring as Drew Potts' lead-off home run got things going. After a Mason McManus walk, Pierce Radke launched a two-run blast and Erskine had a 3-0 lead after the first inning. However, Francis Marion and their potent offense came to life over the next four frames, scoring at least five runs in three of those innings, meaning the Fleet trailed 16-5 after five innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Evan Rodriguez came off the bench and delivered an RBI single, and then Danny Villafane added a sacrifice fly before Noah Hill's two-run double capped a four-run inning for the Fleet to make it 16-10. FMU answered by scoring three runs in the top of the eighth, but Erskine did not go down without a fight. Potts started the scoring in the eighth with a two-run home run, his second of the day, and Quinn Allen added a two-run blast of his own early in the ninth. Potts and Jacob Platt had back-to-back doubles later in the frame to get the Fleet within four and putting game pressure on the Patriots for the first time since the early innings. However, the Fleet could not get another baserunner and dropped a high-scoring series opener with the eighth-ranked team in the country.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine and No. 8 Francis Marion University finish their series with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon. The Fleet will honor the 17 seniors on this year's team prior to the games.

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