AMERICUS, GA — The Georgia Southwestern State University Hurricanes plated four runs in the fourth inning and never looked back, en route to an 8-5 win over Francis Marion University, Monday afternoon (April 26) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.
The Patriots finish the 2021 campaign 18-17 overall and 16-17 in PBC play. Francis Marion is set to join Conference Carolinas at the start of the next school year.
The Hurricanes (17-19, 15-15) struck first again when they exploded for four runs in the bottom of the second inning. FMU responded in the top of the fourth with two runs, thanks to a two-RBI single up the middle by sophomore outfielder
Jack Hegan to narrow the deficit to two. However, GSW plated another run in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-2 lead.
In the fifth inning, FMU junior outfielder
Will Hardee trimmed the margin with another RBI single, but again the Hurricanes answered with a run of their own to keep a three-run lead.
FMU continued to press GSW, adding another run in the sixth. This time when junior catcher
Trystan Freeman singled to right to score Hegan, but the Hurricanes plated two more runs in the bottom of the frame to take an 8-4 lead.
The Patriots entered the ninth ready to rally as Hardee, an Evergreen, S.C., native, jumped on a fastball for a solo shot to right field, but FMU fell short, dropping the season finale 8-5.
Three Patriots registered multiple hits in the game: Senior outfielder
Bill Hanna (2-for-5, one runs scored), Hardee (2-for-4, one runs scored, two RBIs), and Hegan (2-for-3, one runs scored, two RBIs). Freeman, third baseman
Todd Mattox, junior shortstop
Mickey Skole, and junior second baseman Wakefield all recorded a hit in the finale.
Mattox extended his streak of safely reaching base to 43 games — dating back to last season – and joined a select group of Patriots with a season batting average of at least .400 as he finished at .405. Hardee just missed becoming a member as he finished at .399.
Georgia Southwestern's Aaron Wainright (3-4) picked up the win, while FMU senior righty
Ethan Meece (0-2) was tabbed with the loss.
Seven Patriot seniors who appeared in the game donned the red, white, and blue for the final time.
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.
Ga. Southwestern 8, Francis Marion 5 (4/26/2021 at Americus, Ga.)
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Francis Marion...... 000 211 001 - 5 10 1 (18-17, 16-17)
Ga. Southwestern.... 040 112 00X - 8 10 0 (17-19, 15-15)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Ethan Meece;
TJ Provenzano(2);
Reece Kleinhelter(4);
Austin Moody(4);
Cory Poulsen(6);
Chad Wallen(6) and . Ga. Southwestern - A. Wainright;
H. Stills(6); N. McCollum(8); C. Garrett(9) and .
Win-A. Wainright(3-4) Loss-
Ethan Meece(0-2) T-3:10 A-150
HR FMU -
Will Hardee.
