PEMBROKE, NC — In the latest installment of the battle of I-95, 16th-ranked UNC Pembroke dealt Francis Marion University two losses on Sunday (April 11) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action. The Braves captured a 13-5 win in the opener and a seven-inning 18-4 victory in the nightcap.
 
FMU drops to 13-14 overall and 11-14 in PBC play, while UNCP improves to 24–5 and 20-3. The two squads will play a single game on Monday at 2 p.m. to conclude the series.
 
FMU senior shortstop Todd Mattox and sophomore outfielder Jack Hegan led the Patriots with three hits in the twin bill. Mattox extended his streak of safely reaching base to 35 consecutive games — dating back to last season. Junior catcher Trystan Freeman and senior outfielder Bill Hanna were the only other Patriots to record multiple hits on the day.  Mattox and Freeman both drove in three runs.
 
In game one, UNCP struck first with a run in the bottom of the second. The Patriots immediately responded with two runs in the third. Freeman jumped on a fastball for his first career home run, and Mattox later plated Hanna with an RBI single to left field. The Braves answered with two more runs in the bottom of the third to regain the lead at 3-2.
 
UNC Pembroke added two more runs in the fifth, and a run in the sixth, before exploding for five runs in the seventh. The Patriots rallied for three in the eighth, thanks to a Freeman two-RBI double to left-centerfield and sophomore Harrison Bigham scoring on a groundout by junior third baseman Mickey Skole.  However, the Braves added two more in the bottom of the inning and took a 13-5 win in game one.
 
Freeman picked up two of his four career extra-base hits as a Patriot in the opener.
 
FMU freshman starter Halton Hardy (2-1) was tagged with the loss. The Athens, Ga., native went five innings giving up only five runs (four earned) on five hits, and struck out six batters. UNCP starter Bucky Bonynge (6-1) picked up the win for the Braves.
 
In the second contest, UNC Pembroke struck first again by tallying four runs in the bottom of the opening frame. FMU quickly answered with two runs of its own in the second inning, thanks to a solo shot to right-centerfield by Mattox and an RBI single by Skole, but the Braves responded with three more runs in the bottom of the second.
 
The Patriots punched back in the third. First, on an RBI triple down the right-field line by Mattox — his fourth triple of the year — and second when a ground out by designated hitter Austin Moore brought home Mattox. However, the PBC leaders added two runs in the bottom of the inning, one in the fourth, and four each in the fifth and sixth innings to earn an 18-4 mercy-rule win.
 
FMU senior southpaw Weston Rogers (3-4) took the loss, while UNCP starter Darren Bowen (4-0) picked up the game-two win for the Braves.
 
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.
 
 
UNC Pembroke 13, Francis Marion 5 (Apr 11, 2021 at Pembroke, N.C.) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion......    002 000 030  -  5 10  2      (13-13, 11-13 PBC)
UNC Pembroke........ 012 021 52X  - 13 10  1      (23-5, 19-3 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Halton Hardy; Tyler Davis(5); Brock Rodgers(7); Blake Sherrill(7);
Chad Wallen(8) and Trystan Freeman. UNC Pembroke - Bonynge; Oxendine(7); L. Smith(9) and Clemons
.
Win-Bonynge(6-1)  Loss-Halton Hardy(2-1)  T-3:40  A-0
HR FMU - Trystan Freeman.
HR UNCP - Hammonds; Dixon.
Hardy faced 4 batters in the 5th.
 
UNC Pembroke 18, Francis Marion 4 (Apr 11, 2021 at Pembroke, N.C.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion......     022 000 0 -  4  6  3      (13-14, 11-14 PBC)
UNC Pembroke........ 432 144 0 - 18 18  1      (24-5, 20-3 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Weston Rogers; Bailey Wendel(2); Austin Moody(5); Joshua Collins(6)
and Daulton Dabbs. UNC Pembroke - Bowen; Inman(7) and Littleton.
Win-Bowen(4-0)  Loss-Weston Rogers(3-4)  T-2:33  A-0
HR FMU - Todd Mattox.
HR UNCP - Ryan; Littleton.