FLORENCE, SC – Senior first baseman Leniel Gonzalez drilled an opposite field, two-run, walk-off homer to give Francis Marion University a dramatic 3-2 win over Young Harris College, Friday night (Feb. 28) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.

Francis Marion improves to 6-8 overall and 2-4 in the conference, while the Mountain Lions drop to 8-4 and 2-2.  The two squads will play the second game of the weekend series on Saturday at 2 p.m.  FMU is holding an Extra Day Extra Play promotion where all fans will get in for just $3 apiece.

The blow by Gonzalez overshadowed a record-tying performance by Patriot starter Josh Bobrowski.  The senior left-hander struck out a school-record-tying 17 batters in his eight innings of work.  The mark was previously set by Jeff Schassler in a 1981 win over Allen University and by Willie Bell in a 1975 victory over Voorhees College.

Bobrowski surrendered only seven hits and walked just one.  Patriot junior righty Chad Wallen (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win.  His two strikeouts gave FMU hurlers 19 for the night, one shy of the team single-game record.

Gonzalez finished the game 2-for-4 as he doubled in the fifth inning.  The exciting ninth began with junior third baseman Tyler Mangum singling to deep left centerfield.  After pinch runner Brian Kahn replaced Mangum, Gonzalez hit an 0-1 pitch from closer McLain Harris (0-1) over the left centerfield wall setting off a wild celebration at home plate.  Harris entered the game 5-for-5 in save situations in 2020, and had not given up a run.

Francis Marion's other run came in the eighth as sophomore right fielder Will Hardee singled home junior second baseman Sam Stonskas, trimming the Young Harris lead to 2-1.

Mountain Lion starter Drew Wilson held FMU hitless for the first four frames and allowed only one run on five hits with seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work.

Young Harris took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an opposite field solo homer by designated hitter Paul Salata.  The margin doubled in the fourth when shortstop Oscar Serratos doubled and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Post-game comments from FMU head coach Art Inabinet and senior left-handed pitcher Josh Bobrowski

Francis Marion Univ. 3, Young Harris College 2 (Feb 28, 2020 at Florence, SC)
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Young Harris College 010 100 000  -  2  7  2      (8-4, 2-2 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 000 012  -  3  7  0      (6-8, 2-4 PBC)
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Pitchers: Young Harris College - Drew Wilson; McLain Harris(8) and Cole Jackson.
Francis Marion Univ. - Josh Bobrowski; Chad Wallen(9) and Daulton Dabbs; Trystan Freeman.
Win-Chad Wallen(1-0)  Loss-McLain Harris(0-1)  T-2:20  A-559
HR YHC - Paul Salata (1).
HR FMU - Leniel Gonzalez (2).
Weather: Mostly Cloudy,59,Winds WSW@20
Harris faced 2 batters in the 9th.