FLORENCE, SC – Senior third baseman Todd Mattox drove in five runs with four hits and Francis Marion University head coach Art Inabinet captured his 700th career win as the Patriots swept a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader from Claflin University on Saturday afternoon (March 6), winning 10-0 and 12-3.
 
Francis Marion has won six in a row to improve to 7-4 overall and 5-4 in the PBC.  Claflin drops to 1-13 and 1-13.  The Patriots will conclude their 11-game homestand with a 3-game series against Lander University next weekend, beginning with a single game on Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
Inabinet earned his 700th win as a college head coach with the game-one victory.  His all-time mark, including time at North Greenville College, is 701-445-2.
 
FMU senior southpaw Weston Rogers (2-1), a Mullins native, tossed a six-hit shutout in the opener.  He struck out eight and did not issue a walk.
 
Claflin right-hander Charles Jackson (0-3) matched Rogers with zeros over the first three innings, but Francis Marion scored six times in the fourth inning on only two hits and then added four runs in the sixth as the 10-run mercy rule was instituted after seven frames.
 
The fourth-inning outburst saw senior center fielder Bill Hanna plated the first run with a sacrifice fly, four runs came home on wild pitches, and freshman right fielder Kolby Crepeau drilled a run-scoring double down the left field line.
 
Mattox hit a three-run homer over the left field wall to highlight the sixth inning. 
 
In the second contest, FMU senior righty Bailey Wendel (1-1) pitched six scoreless innings as the Patriots built an 8-0 advantage.  Wendel allowed only four singles, fanned seven, and walked only one.
 
Four Patriots rapped out three hits as FMU totaled 21 knocks: sophomore left fielder Jack Hegan 3-for-6, Mattox 3-for-5, senior first baseman Darius Nobles 3-for-6, and Hanna 3-for-3.  Crepeau drove in three runs with a fielder's choice grounder and a 2-run double, while both Mattox and Hanna registered two RBIs.
 
FMU broke a scoreless deadlock with three tallies in the third. Graduate student Grayson Cottingham and Hanna delivered run-scoring singles and one run scored on a wild pitch.
 
Five runs followed in the sixth as Crepeau, Mattox, Nobles, Hanna, and sophomore designated hitter Austin Moore all drove in runs.  The final four FMU runs came in the eighth when one scored on a throwing error, two on a Crepeau double, and one on a Mattox single to right.
 
Senior lefty Makai Holloway (0-5) took the game-two loss for the Panthers.  Both Quinten Kinard and Mackenzie Gay collected two hits and an RBI for Claflin in the second contest.
 
Mattox extended his hitting streak to 10 games and his streak of safely reaching base to 19 games dating back to last season.  Ranked among the Top-10 nationally in total hits, he went 8-for-15 with 11 RBIs in the series.

 
 
Francis Marion 10, Claflin University 0 (Mar 06, 2021 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Claflin University..     000 000 0 -  0  6  2      (1-12, 1-12 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 604 X - 10  6  0      (6-4, 4-4 PBC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Claflin University - Charles Jackson; Talmon Hubbard (6) and Jordan McCray;
Enrique Morales. Francis Marion Univ. - Weston Rogers and Daulton Dabbs.
Win-Weston Rogers (2-1)  Loss-Charles Jackson (0-3)  T-2:03  A-202
HR FMU - Todd Mattox (2).
Weather: Overcast, 54, W NE 6 mph
 
Francis Marion 12, Claflin University 3 (Mar 06, 2021 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Claflin University..     000 000 210  -  3  9  1      (1-13, 1-13 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 003 005 04X  - 12 21  0      (7-4, 5-4 PBC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Claflin University - Makai Holloway; Kyle Hawkins (6); Shamar Thomas (8) and
Jordan McCray. Francis Marion Univ. - Bailey Wendel; Cory Poulsen (7); Reece Kleinhelter (8); Christian Umphlett (9) and Mickey Skole; Daulton Dabbs.
Win-Bailey Wendel (1-1)  Loss-Makai Holloway (0-5)  T-2:42
Weather: Mostly sunny,55,Winds N@4 mph
K. Hawkins faced 4 batters in the 8th.