FLORENCE, SC - Francis Marion University senior first baseman Darius Nobles went 3-for-6 driving in six runs to help lead the Patriots to a 15-6 Peach Belt Conference victory over the Young Harris College on Sunday (Feb. 28). With Sunday's win, the Patriots take two games from the Mountain Lions, earning their first PBC series win of the 2021 season.
 
Francis Marion improves to 3-3 on the season and 2-4 in PBC play, while Young Harris moves to 3-4 and 3-3 in the PBC.
 
FMU will play Barton College on Tuesday at 6 p.m., before returning back to PBC action with a three-game series against Claflin on Friday and Saturday, March 5-6. Attendance is limited to 250 and that includes only season ticket holders, FMU students with pre-acquired tickets, and family members of players and staff with pre-reserved tickets. No walk-up game-day tickets will be sold.
 
Four Patriots registered three hits apiece in the victory: Graduate student shortstop Grayson Cottingham (3-for-5), junior right fielder Will Hardee (3-for-5), senior third baseman Todd Mattox (3-for-6), and Nobles. Behind Nobles' six RBIs was sophomore designated hitter Carson Jones who drove in three. Cottingham, senior center fielder Bill Hanna, Hardee, Mattox, and junior second baseman Tanner Wakefield all recorded one RBI.  Mattox finished the series with 10 hits.
 
Senior left-handed pitcher Weston Rogers (1-1) recorded the win, with 6.0 innings of work. Graduate student Christian Umphlett received the save, in 3.0 innings, only giving up four hits and one run. The righty made his 69th relief appearance — extending his FMU record — and recorded his 10th career save.
 
YHC right-handed pitcher Tucker Daniel (0-1) was tagged with the loss for the Mountain Lions.
 
Francis Marion plated two runs in the first inning thanks to the first of three Nobles 2-run singles, but Young Harris answered with four in the top of the second frame. The Patriots then exploded for seven in the bottom of the third to lead 9-4. The Mountain Lions would only plate two more runs over the final six innings.
 
FMU would remain scoreless in the fourth and fifth before adding three more runs in the sixth. Cottingham reached base after being hit by the opening pitch of the inning and scored two batters later on a wild pitch. Reserve catcher Dalton Dabbs, who reached on a bunt single, would score on a strike-out/throwing error by the catcher that allowed Jones aboard the bases. Jones advanced to second on a wild pitch, before Hardee singled to second, driving him in.
 
The Patriots added three insurance runs in the eighth thanks to the third and final Nobles' two-run single up the middle that scored Hanna and Hardee. 
 
Every Patriot starter had at least one hit as FMU pounded out 19 hits.
 
For the latest news and updates regarding Francis Marion baseball, follow the Patriots on Twitter at @FMUSports, on Facebook at FMUSports, and Instagram at @FMUSports or check out information online at www.fmupatriots.com.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 15, Young Harris College 6 (Feb 28, 2021 at Florence, SC)
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Young Harris College 040 010 001  -  6 14  5      (3-4, 3-3 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 207 003 03X  - 15 19  1      (3-4, 2-4 PBC)
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Pitchers: Young Harris College - Kyle Turner; Tucker Daniel(1); Travis Burnette(3);
Brody Meeks(3); Levi Ayers(6); Brady Caloway(8) and Cole Jackson. Francis Marion Univ. - Weston Rogers; Christian Umphlett(7) and Mickey Skole; Daulton Dabbs.
Win-Weston Rogers (1-1)  Save-Christian Umphlett (2)  Loss-Tucker Daniel (0-1)  T-3:32  A-85
Weather: Cloudy, 81, SW 14 pmh
Daniel faced 3 batters in the 3rd
Meeks faced 3 batters in the 6th
Rogers faced 1 batter in the 7th.