GREENWOOD----The Erskine College baseball team exploded for six runs in the eighth inning Wednesday night and defeated Lander, 10-4, in a non-conference game at Legion Field.
Erskine improves to 38-16 overall, while Lander drops to 28-22.
Jon Merrell (7-3) earned the win, striking out four, walking one and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in five innings of work. Lander's William Dudley (2-2) was the losing pitcher, striking out two, walking one and allowing one earned run on two hits in two innings pitched. Lander used seven pitchers in the game.
Erskine took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Shelton Cisson advanced to second on a throwing error by Lander pitcher Chris Munn, and scored on Juan Adriatico's double to centerfield.
Lander tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. Malcolm McLeod reached first on a throwing error by Merrell, advanced to second on a groundout, to third on a wild pitch and scored on Gabe McCann's single down the right field line.
Erskine took a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning. Cisson led off with a single to centerfield, advanced to second on Adriatico's single then scored on Matt Schneider's single in shallow right field. Adriatico added the third run when he scored from third on a wild pitch by pitcher Evan Christian.
Lander tied the game 3-3 in the fifth. Kevin Jones led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball then scored on McCann's RBI single. McCann stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch then tied the game at 3-3 on Kevin Davis' groundout.
Erskine took a 4-3 lead in the sixth, J.J. Newman singled to left, advanced to second on Cisson's walk then scored on Adriatico's single to center field.
Erskine put the game away in the eighth inning. Kris Andersen was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on Newman's single and advanced to third on Cisson's single to load the bases. Andersen walked home to give Erskine a 5-3 lead when Robbie Knapp was hit by a pitch by Lander's Corey Watkins. Adriatico then stroked a base-clearing double down the left field line to give Erskine an 8-3 lead. Adriatico advanced to third on Schneider's pop fly to right field then scored (9-3) on a wild pitch.
For Lander, McCann went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI, while Davis went 2-for-5 with one RBI.
For Erskine, Adriatico went 4-for-6 with two doubles, two runs and five RBI. Cisson went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, Cook went 3-for-5 with one RBI and Newman went 2-for-6 with two runs scored.
