FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore right fielder Nicky Winterstein bounced a bases-loaded single over the mound and up the middle in the 10th inning to give Francis Marion University a 6-5 victory over Barton College, Tuesday evening (March 13) in non-conference baseball action.

Francis Marion improves to 9-15 with its second victory over the Bulldogs (9-16) this season.  FMU will host Young Harris College for a three-game Peach Belt Conference series this weekend.  The Patriots and Mountain Lions will play single games on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.

CJ Mackinson led FMU at the plate with a pair of hits and one run batted in. Seven other Patriots registered base hits.

Patriot junior reliever Cole Hinnant (1-3) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of work.

First baseman Chase Riker was the lone Bulldog with two hits.

The winning rally started with an infield single by junior third baseman Alex Griffith that handcuffed the Barton shortstop.  Junior Austin Fox pinch ran for Griffith and moved to second on a walk to freshman Peyton Creech.  Senior first baseman Trey Chapman attempted to move the runners up with a bunt, but when pitcher Colby Warren (0-3) fielded the ball, he threw late to third base leaving the bases loaded with no outs.  Winterstein then worked the count to 2-2 before coming up with the walk-off hit.

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first in the top of second. After FMU freshman starter Roseberry retired the first four batters, a walk and an infield single preceded a two-out RBI single through the left side by leftfielder Rich Trifaro.  Catcher Danny Rodriguez followed with a line-drive RBI single to left center, doubling the margin to 2-0.

The Patriots responded with three runs in the bottom of the third, all unearned due to a non-catch of a line drive.  Chapman opened the inning with a double off the left centerfield wall.  Junior left fielder Steven Cox blooped a single to right center putting runners on first and third.  Junior center fielder Gage Taylor hit a liner at the second baseman that got by him allowing Chapman to score.  Cox then stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Brody Thomasson.  Mackinson plated the go-ahead run with a two-out RBI single to center, that also extended his hitting streak to seven games.

Barton quickly knotted the score with a single tally in the top of the fourth.  Riker doubled down the right field line and scored on a one-out single to right by designated hitter Mason Cooper.

A pair of Bulldogs errors allowed FMU to regain the lead in the last of the fourth.  Chapman scored all the way from first when Barton starter Alex Hart made a throwing error on a bunt by Cox.  Taylor followed with a double just inside the first base bag and down the right field line that scored Cox, and also extended his hitting streak to eight contests.

Roseberry stranded a pair of Bulldog runners at second and third in the top of the fifth as FMU maintained a 5-3 lead.  He threw five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.

Barton scored twice in the seventh to tie the re-tie the game at 5-5.  Hunter Little blasted an RBI-double to deep right center and he came home on a two-out run-scoring single by Troy Maslowski.

FMU looked for an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth.  Thomassson walked with one out and raced to third on a single by Mackinson.  When the throw came in from left field, the ball bounced up and off the third baseman's shoulder and Thomasson tried to score, but was tagged out at the plate.

    Nicky Winterstein

Francis Marion Univ. 6, Barton College 5 (Mar 13, 2018 at Florence, SC)
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Barton College......   020 100 200 0 -  5 10  3      (9-16)
Francis Marion Univ. 003 200 000 1 -  6  9  0      (9-15)
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Pitchers: Barton College - Alex Hart; Jabe Montgomery(5); Landry Moore(7); Colby Warren(10) and
Rodriguez; Alomd (9). Francis Marion Univ. - Austin Roseberry; Evan Flynn(6); Garrett Wilson(7);
Christian Umphlett(8); Cole Hinnant(9) and Robbins.
Win-Cole Hinnant (1-3)  Loss-Colby Warren (0-3)  T-3:19  A-490
Weather: Sunny, 60, Winds: E @ 1 mph