Newberry Observer

Wolves bested by Erskine 10-6

DUE WEST — Newberry took the lead on homestanding Erskine with two runs in the fourth, but the Flying Fleet stormed back with nine runs in the middle innings to claim a 10-6 win over the Wolves.

Newberry (11-12) mounted a comeback attempt in the ninth inning. Trailing the Fleet (16-7) by seven runs, the Wolves used a walk and three base hits, two from pinch hitters, to close the gap to four before a groundout ended the contest.

A two-run double by Tanner Lane opened the scoring in the ninth three batters before Derek Olenchuk’s 32nd RBI of the season plated the Wolves’ final run. Olenchuk’s 15th multi-hit game of the season extended his hitting streak to seven games, currently the longest on the team. He also had multiple RBI for the ninth time in 2018.

Danton Hyman joined Olenchuk with two hits and also scored a pair of runs. Colin Allman had a sixth-inning single, marking the 25th consecutive game he has reached base safely in a streak dating back to March 25 of last season.

The Wolves fell behind 1-0 in the first, but came back to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, converting a bunt single and a grounder through the left side into a pair of runs by taking advantage of two Erskine errors. Erskine, however, surged ahead with RBI doubles on back-to-back pitches in the bottom of the inning.

Erskine added three more runs in the fifth, two of which were unearned, to stretch the lead to four. They then scored four more times in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

Tomas Sorcia Jr. fell to 1-1 with the loss, tossing 4.2 innings and giving up six runs on nine hits. He did not walk a batter while tallying four strikeouts.

Erskine’s Zach Carter was lifted after six innings of work and improved to 2-0 on the year. He allowed three Newberry runs on five hits and struck out five while walking one.

The Flying Fleet led in the hits column 17-8, but committed five errors to Newberry’s three. The eight combined errors were tied for the most in a Newberry nine-inning game since March 29, 2014, when the Wolves and Lenoir-Rhyne combined for 10 errors in an 8-7 Newberry win.

Despite leading during the fourth inning, the Wolves fell short to Erskine 10-6 after nine runs in middle innings from the Flying Fleet.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_BaseballNC2018.jpgDespite leading during the fourth inning, the Wolves fell short to Erskine 10-6 after nine runs in middle innings from the Flying Fleet. Courtesy photo

Staff Report