Patriots doubled up (6-3) in season opener at Erskine

DUE WEST, SC - First baseman John Bolding collected three hits and drove in four runs to help Erskine College to a 6-3 win over 12th-ranked Francis Marion University, Thursday afternoon (Feb. 4) spoiling the Patriots' season opener.

FMU and Erskine (3-0) will renew acquaintances on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. on Francis Marion's Cormell Field.

Senior right fielder Alex Lee led Francis Marion at the plate as he went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

After Erskine scored an unearned run in the first frame, the Patriot plated two runs in the top of the third inning.  Lee and senior shortstop Barrett Kleinknecht rapped out back-to-back, two-out RBI doubles.  The Flying Fleet answered in the bottom of the frame with two runs to regain the lead at 3-2.

FMU tied the game in the fifth at 3-3 when junior third baseman Tyler Cappelmann scored on a ground out by senior center fielder Martin Gordon.  Once again Erskine responded immediately in its half of the inning, scoring the go-ahead run on an RBI-single by Bolding.  Erskine added two insurance runs in the seventh inning, aided by two walks.

Senior left-handed pitcher Josh Edgin (0-1) pitched the first five innings and allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned).

William Buzhardt was the winning pitcher, while Atlee Pearson earned a save with 3.1 scoreless inning.