ROME, Ga. – The Erskine College baseball team (20-20, 14-10 CC) split a doubleheader against Shorter University (12-22, 4-20 CC) to take a three-game series at the Robert H. Ledbetter Baseball Complex on Saturday.

After a heartbreaking loss in extra innings in the first game of the day, the Fleet bounced back with a convincing 7-1 win in the rubber match.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Shorter 8-7 Erskine (Final / 8 innings)
Erskine jumped out to an early lead after Jack Luthren's RBI groundout opened the scoring and then Noah Hill added a two-run double in the second inning. Starting pitcher Chase Grube was excellent through his first four innings on the mound, and even after a Shorter home run in the fifth got them on the board, Grube and a dominant sixth inning from Wilford helped Erskine to a 3-1 lead going into the seventh. However, the Hawks hit two more home runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and force extra innings. The Fleet responded in a big way in the top of the eighth, starting with another run-scoring double from Hill to put the Fleet back in front. A Hawks error allowed Hill to score to make it 5-3, and then Mason McManus launched a two-run home run, giving the Fleet a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. But, Shorter delivered the final blow with a five-spot in the bottom half, handing the Fleet a crushing loss in the middle game of the series.

Game 2: Erskine 7-1 Shorter
Hoping to bounce back in the finale, Erskine started fast again as a sacrifice fly from Danny Villafane opened the scoring in the first. In the second, Stephen Kriner launched his second home run of the year, a three-run blast that extended the Fleet's lead to 4-0. Sacrifice flies from Drew Potts and Kriner in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively, preserved some cushion for the Fleet and an RBI single from Villafane capped the scoring for the day, which was plenty enough for the Erskine staff who delivered a gem in the rubber match. Larson McMaster made his first Erskine start and poured in five quality innings, allowing just one run before handing off to the bullpen. Coleman Garner, Kyle Knoll, Julien Hachem, and Brandon Fears were all excellent in their innings of work to follow, allowing just one combined hit over four scoreless innings between them to seal a road series win for the Fleet.

THE PLAYER
Stephen Kriner had to wait until the third game of the weekend for his first start of the series but was influential in the rubber match. Kriner's three-run home run in the second inning opened up a sizeable lead for the Fleet, and the junior outfielder also added a sacrifice fly in the sixth, totaling four RBIs to lead the Fleet's offense.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine has an open mid-week to prepare for a three-game series at home against Barton College (7-24, 5-19 CC) that begins on Friday at 3 p.m. to begin a vital seven-game home stand.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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