February 29, 2008
Contact: Leah Melichar
Limestone College Sports Information
Phone: 864-488-8219
lmelichar@limestone.edu

NO. 29 ERSKINE EDGES LIMESTONE 7-6

DUE WEST, S.C.—The No. 26-ranked Erskine College baseball team edged Limestone 7-6 on Friday afternoon at Grier Field. The Flying Fleet maintains their perfect Conference Carolinas record (7-0) and climb to 17-0 on the season. Limestone falls to 4-3 in the league (10-8 overall).

Erskine scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly from John Bolding to take the 7-6 victory .

Limestone took a 1-0 lead in the second when Justin Moore (Shelby, N.C.) scored on a ground out by Kyle Brewer (Gruetli-Laager, Tenn.). The Fleet would go ahead in the bottom of the inning on back to back bases loaded walks to Bryan Folge and Chas Anthony. The lead would not last long as the Saints would answer with two runs in the third inning capped off by a solo home run from Adam McSwain (Fallston, N.C.).

The two teams would battle back and forth through out the game, with neither squad getting ahead by more than one run. The Fleet looked to take the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh when Anthony hit a lead off home run to center field and Bolding scored on a sacrifice fly from Matt Wurzer to give Erskine a 6-5 advantage. Limestone would tie the game up the very next inning on back-to-back two-out triples form Zach Watkins (Albany, Ga.) and Phillip Soden (Inman, S.C.).

Erskine would not be able to answer the Saint rally in the bottom of the eighth, and Limestone would go scoreless in the ninth setting the scene for some last inning heroics. With one out, Anthony walked and then advanced to third on a single from Matt Schneider, bringing Bolding to the plate. After a pitching change by the Saints, Bolding lifted a fly ball to right field that allowed Anthony to score the winning run.

Limestone was led at the plate by Soden who was 4-5 with a double, a triple, and two runs batted in. McSwain was 2-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Brock White (Gaffney, S.C.) took the loss for the Saints allowing one run in two innings of work out of the bull pen.

Erskine was led on offense by Anthony, who was the only batter with multiple hits going 2-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Fogle and Bolding also added a hit and drove in a run each for the Fleet. Atlee Pearson picked up his third victory of the season allowing one run in three innings of relief work and striking out four.

Limestone and Erskine will square off again tomorrow as Saturday's doubleheader is slated to start at 12 p.m.

-LIMESTONE-