AMERICUS, GA — The Francis Marion University baseball team thumped Georgia Southwestern State University for 30 hits en route to claiming 6-5 and 12-8 victories on Sunday evening (April 25) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.
 
Francis Marion (18-16, 16-16) will conclude its 2021 season on Monday when the Patriots go for the three-game sweep against GSW at noon. 
 
In game one, the Hurricanes struck first in the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Patriots immediately responded with four runs in the second inning. Sophomore outfielder Jack Hegan plated the first run on an RBI single to left field. Four batters later, senior outfielder Bill Hanna drew a walk with the bases loaded. Junior second baseman Tanner Wakefield then roped a two-RBI single to right-centerfield to give the Patriots a 4-1 lead.
 
After three scoreless innings, FMU added another run in the sixth thanks to a solo shot to left-center by senior first baseman Darius Nobles. The Hurricanes answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth to draw within two. The Patriots added another insurance run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Florence native Will Hardee. 
 
Georgia Southwestern (16-19, 14-15) rallied to within one in the eighth, but FMU righty Daniel Twitty stranded a pair of Hurricane runners on base in both the eighth and ninth innings to earn his first save and close out the 6-5 victory.
 
FMU freshman righty Halton Hardy (3-2) went five innings and picked up the win. He pitched four shutout innings after giving up a run in the opening frame and fanned six batters. GSW right-hander Tucker Smith (4-4) picked up the loss.
 
Junior catcher Daulton Dabbs (2-for-4), designated hitter Austin Moore (2-for-4), Nobles (2-for-4, RBI), and Wakefield (2-for-5, 2 RBI) led the Patriots at the plate in game one. Mattox and Hegan also recorded hits.
 
In game two, GSW struck first again, this time in the second inning. The Patriots answered with two runs in the third. First on a solo home run by junior catcher Trystan Freeman, and second on a Wakefield RBI double to left-centerfield. However, the Hurricanes tied it back up at two-apiece in the bottom of the inning.
 
In the fourth, FMU platted two runs thanks to a single up the middle by Hanna, but GSW exploded for four runs in the fifth – knocking out Patriot starter Bailey Wendel – and one run in the second to take a 7-4 lead.
 
The Patriots rally began with three runs in the seventh. First on a two-RBI double to right field by Hardee, and second on an RBI single to left by Mattox. Déjà vu. FMU platted three runs again in the eighth on a two-RBI double by Hardee and an RBI single by Mattox to take a 10-7 lead. In the ninth, Hegan homered to right field and shortstop Grayson Cottingham scored on a sacrifice fly by Freeman to give the Patriots a 12-8 series-clinching win.
 
FMU graduate student Christian Umphlett (2-1) picked the win. He pitched 4.2 innings of relief in his 81st career mound appearance, giving up only two runs on eight hits and striking out four. GSW right-hander Riley Powers (3-2) was tabbed with the loss for the Hurricanes.
 
Five Patriots registered multiple hits in game two: Mattox (4-for-5, two RBIs), Wakefield (4-for-6, two runs scored, RBI), Hanna (3-for-5, two runs scored, two RBIs), Moore (3-for-5, two runs scored), and Hardee (2-for-6, two runs scored, four RBIs). Mattox extended his streak of safely reaching base to 42 games — dating back to last season.
 
Cottingham, Freeman, Hegan, and Nobles all recorded a hit to complete the 20-hit attack.
 
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 6, Ga. Southwestern 5 (4/25/2021 at Americus, Ga.) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 040 001 100  -  6 10  0      (17-16, 15-16 PBC)
Ga. Southwestern.... 100 002 020  -  5 10  1      (16-18, 14-14 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Halton Hardy; Reece Kleinhelter(6); Cory Poulsen(8); Daniel Twitty(8)
and Daulton Dabbs. Ga. Southwestern - T. Smith; N. McCollum(9) and G. Wozniak.
Win-Halton Hardy (3-2)  Save-Daniel Twitty (1)  Loss-Tucker Smith (4-4)  T-2:45  A-210
HR FMU - Darius Nobles. HR GSW - J. Martin.
Hardy faced 2 batters in the 6th.
Kleinhelter faced 2 batters in the 8th.
T. Smith faced 1 batter in the 9th.
 
Francis Marion 12, Ga. Southwestern 8 (4/25/2021 at Americus, Ga.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion......    002 200 332  - 12 20  1      (18-16, 16-16)
Ga. Southwestern.... 011 041 001  -  8 16  2      (16-19, 14-15)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Bailey Wendel; Christian Umphlett(5) and . Ga. Southwestern -
J. Donalson; R. Powers(7); B. Sundean(8); C. Garrett(9) and .
Win-Christian Umphlett (2-1)  Loss-R. Powers (3-2)  T-3:00  A-210
HR FMU - Jack Hegan; Trystan Freeman.