Aiken, SC – The Erskine Softball Team opened their season this past Saturday in the USC-Aiken Early Bird Tournament. With eight seniors on this year’s squad, the Flying Fleet were anxious to build on last season's winning record.
In the first game, the Fleet jumped all over Seton Hill winning the game 9 to 0 after just five innings. The Fleet banged out six hits, including two by junior Kerry Fincher. The Fleet were aided by two Seton Hill errors and a wild pitch that led directly to three Erskine runs. On the mound, senior Lauren Gunter cruised, only surrendering three hits and walking one in five innings. The closest Seton Hill came to scoring was in the 3rd inning when Erskine’s Kerry Fincher gunned down Brandi Piccotino trying to score on teammate’s Maggie Jones’ fly ball to right field.
In the second game, the Fleet sent freshman Kelsey Spurrier to the mound for her first collegiate start against Chowan College. Kelsey underscored why Coach Alleen Hawkins is so excited about this year’s recruiting class by tossing a no-hitter. The Charlotte native from Butler High School pitched 6 innings, surrendering one unearned run, striking out eight and walking four. Offensively, Kelly Davis got the Fleet rolling in the first inning with a base hit. She promptly stole second and, after moving to third on a wild pitch, stole home. Junior Lindsay LaPrad broke the game wide open in the third when she crushed a two-run double into the left center gap, scoring Lana Ward and Kelly Davis. The mercy rule was enforced in the bottom of the sixth inning when freshman Bailey Thornton drove in Kelly Davis, her third run of the game, and fellow freshman Mel Henderson with a two-run single. All together, the Fleet scored 9 runs on 12 hits, including 7 stolen bases.
The Fleet faced #2 ranked North Georgia in their last game of the tournament. Freshman Krissy Kendrick pitched well in her collegiate debut. She threw four shutout innings, gave up only two hits, walked three and struck out one. Fellow freshman Heather Richey started the fifth inning on the mound and was rudely greeted by North Georgia. The first batter tripled down the right field line and later scored on a fielder's choice. After striking out the lead off hitter, the #2 hitter, Kasey Knight, drove one to the left field wall scoring another run. Erskine did not help themselves committing an error that allowed the third North Georgia run. Heather Richey settled down to retire the next two batters and pitched an effective sixth inning, retiring all three batters. Offensively, the Fleet struggled to solve the North Georgia pitcher, Sarah Daillids. Daillids limited the Fleet to just four hits and only gave up one walk while recording nine strikeouts.
Erskine welcomes local rival Lander University to Due West on Wednesday with first pitch set for 2 p.m.