Box Score by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – The Flying Fleet of Erskine College scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat Barton College 5-2 on Friday afternoon in the first game of a three-game series at Nixon Field.
Entering the game Barton and Erskine were tied for third place overall in the Conference Carolinas standings, however, Erskine is now one game ahead with an 8-2 league record to go along with a 21-8 record overall. With the loss BC falls to 17-7 overall with a 7-3 mark in conference play.
Sophomore right-hander Dylan Ward (4-2) was hit with the loss after pitching 9.1 innings on the mound, allowing four runs on 10 hits with eight strikeouts. Sophomore left-hander Andrew Davis finished the final 2/3 of inning, allowing one run on two hits.
Barton chased Erskine starter Zack Bowers from the mound after just 3.2 innings of work as reliever Joe Johnson earned his fifth win of the year after pitching 6.1 innings and allowing just two hits with seven strikeouts.
The Flying Fleet gained an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Chaz Davey grounded out to Ward with the bases loaded. Junior Calvin Hawke led off the third inning with a single for Barton's first hit of the game.
In the fourth, junior Andrew Webster led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a ground out by Jacob Willis before Chris Davis walked and Blake Spangenberg was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman Ricks Dearing brought Webster home from third with a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game at 1-1. Senior Ben Youngblood broke the tie with an RBI single to left as Barton held a 2-1 lead after four inning of play.
Erskine scored on an RBI single from Sam Cothran in the seventh to tie the score as Ward and Johnson were dominant on the mound leading to extra innings.
The Flying Fleet put a runner on with one out to begin the 10th inning before Chris Rave hit his fourth home run of the season to left field to put his team ahead by two. Davey drove in his second RBI of the game with a double to left as Erskine held a 5-2 lead over BC.
Barton was able to move a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the 10th but a ground out to second base ended the game.
Webster was 2-for-3 at the plate with two walks and a run scored, while Dearing and Youngblood each recorded an RBI for Barton.
The two teams will conclude the series tomorrow with a doubleheader scheduled to begin a 10 a.m. in Wilson. Saturday will also be Barton's annual benefit game with the team supporting Children's Organ Transplant Organization (COTA) through a silent auction to take place during the games.
This year's benefit will have a more personal meaning for the Barton baseball family as former player, Matt Watson (2007-11) and his family are working with COTA in support of their daughter Lila Grace Watson.
Barton will wear special jerseys donned with Lila Grace's name which will be bid upon throughout the first game of a doubleheader. The team will change into its regular uniforms for game two and the winning bidders can collect their jerseys. Bidding for the jerseys will begin with a $50 minimum bid.
