GREENWOOD, SC – Junior designated hitter Chase Haas' one-out two-run single in the top of the ninth inning paved the way for Francis Marion University's 3-2 win over 22nd-ranked Lander University, Saturday (March 26) in game one of a Peach Belt Conference baseball doubleheader. Despite a 3-for-5 effort from sophomore catcher William Robbins, the Patriots fell 13-8 in game two that featured a 1:31 hour rain delay.

With the split, the Patriots are now 19-12 overall and 7-8 in the PBC, while Lander is 26-8 and 15-6.

The Patriots return home to host Mount Olive on Tuesday (March 29) in a non-conference tilt. The single game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. It will also be Enterprise Rent-A-Car Night at Sparrow Stadium.

Two Patriots recorded a pair of hits in game one: Haas and junior third baseman Antonio Pino (2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored).

Senior left-hander Matt Kelley (4-2) earned the win, tossing eight innings for FMU. He allowed two earned runs on six hits, while walking two batters and fanning eight. Junior righty Chance DuCharme entered in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Patriots. He would record a pair of outs before allowing the potential tying run to reach base with a two-out single.

Senior right-hander Brandon Cook would be called upon to record the final out of the game. He notched his first save of the season, getting a fly-ball to the center fielder to secure the 4-2 win.

FMU kicked-off the scoring in the top of the second inning with a run-scoring double to right field from Pino. The Patriots would hold onto their 1-0 lead until the Bearcats responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. A lead-off home run from Lander second baseman Will Jones knotted the game 1-1. Six batters later, a bases-loaded walk would give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead. 

In the ninth, a pair of back-to-back singles would put the Patriots in business. A sacrifice bunt from freshman left fielder Cole Hinnant with nobody out would move both runners into scoring position. The situation would lead to Lander making a switch on the mound with Haas due-up. Haas delivered for the Patriots with a one-out single, giving FMU a 3-2 lead.

Lander's Tripper Ergle (0-1) was tagged with the game-one loss. He was charged with two earned runs on two hits. Starter JD Waite allowed just a single earned run over eight innings for Lander. He scattered seven hits, walked two batters and struck out three.

Cook would get the starting nod for FMU in the second game. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits, while walking two and striking out two in two innings of work.

Senior southpaw Daniel Barfield (0-1) was handed the loss for FMU, working 2.1 innings of relief. Six pitchers in total saw action on the mound for the Patriots.

FMU sophomore shortstop Brooks Kennedy delivered hits in both contests to extend his hitting streak to 19 games. He went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in the nightcap.

Robbins came through with a run-scoring single in the top of the second frame to give FMU an early 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, junior first baseman Zach Callahan made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to right field. The Bearcats answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning with a two-RBI double from Jones.

After rain halted play in the bottom of the third inning, the Bearcats scored four times taking a 6-2 lead. FMU rallied to score six runs between the fifth and sixth innings, erasing the deficit and turning it into an 8-6 lead.

The three-run fifth frame for the Patriots was highlighted by a two-RBI double to left field from Robbins. A lead-off home run from Kennedy in the sixth briefly tied the game 6-6. Four batters later, senior center fielder Casey Clauss singled to left field, driving in the go-ahead run.

Lander would score seven consecutive runs to close out the game. The Bearcats would tie the game 8-8 in the bottom of the sixth and rally for two more runs in the seventh inning to take a 10-8 lead. Lander tacked on three more runs in the eighth frame.

Robbins and Clauss each finished with three hits in game two. Clauss went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Lander's Colton Rogers (4-1) earned the win, tossing the final 3.2 innings. He surrendered just one hit and fanned four batters. Jones went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs and Colby Lusignan finished 4-for-5 with one RBI.