Box Score by Kevin Buczek
DUE WEST, S.C.-Barton College was held to one run on a sacrifice fly by junior right fielder Avery Harper in losing 7-1 to NCBWA 21st-ranked Erskine College in the opening game of a three-game Conference Carolinas series at Grier Field Friday afternoon.
Junior Austin Gambrell went eight strong innings as the Flying Fleet (16-3 overall, 4-0 conf.) remained undefeated in league play. Junior counterpart Brandon Warren also went eight innings and allowed one less hit but was hurt by errors early and the long ball late as the Bulldogs (7-16, 2-2) slipped to .500 in the conference.
Erskine took a 2-nil advantage thru five innings with an unearned run in both the fourth and fifth.
The Bulldogs pulled to within one run on Harper's sac fly to left that plated junior Mitchell Wheeler, who reached on an error and moved to third on a double by freshman Andrew Webster.
The Flying Fleet, who entered the week ranked second in NCAA Division II in runs scored and batting average, pulled away with a couple late homers. Junior Logan Galliher nailed a two-run blast in the sixth and sophomore Sam Cothran added a three-run shot in the seventh.
Galliher has five homers on the season and Cothran has gone deep twice.
The Royal Blue and White had chances to score more but left nine runners on base. BC was 0 for 10 in official at bats with runners in scoring position.
Webster, junior Snooter Merryman and freshman Calvin Hawke all hit safely twice as the Bulldogs finished with a slight 8-7 hit advantage. Webster's two-bagger in the top of the sixth was Barton's only extra base hit.
Gambrell improved to 4-1 by not allowing a single earned run in his eight innings of work. Gambrell, who was the Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Week in the first week of the season, tallied five strikeouts en route to the victory.
Warren (0-2) allowed seven runs (five earned) over his eight innings while producing four strikeouts.
Barton will conclude its series at Erskine with a Noon doubleheader on Saturday.
