TIGERVILLE, SC -- Francis Marion University scored six runs over the seventh and eighth innings to erase a four-run deficit and knock off North Greenville University 6-4, Friday afternoon (Feb. 25) in Conference Carolinas baseball play.
 
Francis Marion improves to 7-4 overall and evens its conference mark at 2-2.  The two squads will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.
 
FMU senior righty Reece Kleinhelter (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen. He went three innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing no walks and striking out three. Senior right-hander Nick Palumbo tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his second save.
 
In the batter's box, the Patriots were paced by junior catcher Isaac Schuck, who went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. Senior third baseman Todd Mattox went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, and extended his streak of safely reaching base to 54 games dating back to the 2020 season.  Senior second baseman Tanner Wakefield also had two hits with a double.
 
An RBI from NGU starting pitcher Jax Cash brought in the first of three runs in the Crusaders' second inning. The other came home on a double from shortstop Cory Bivins.
 
FMU senior left fielder Lex Tuten kept the margin at 3-0 when he robbed Ethan Stringer of a home run in the bottom of the fifth.  However, Bivins would drive in another run in the bottom of the sixth inning with a double down the left field line to up the advantage to 4-0.
 
The Patriot bats awoke in the seventh as FMU scored five times to take its first lead.  Junior shortstop Naphis Llanos doubled home the first run and Schuck followed with a two-run single to left center.  Mattox plated the go-ahead run with an RBI-grounder.  The fifth run scored on the same play when a potential double play throw was wild.
 
An RBI-single by Schuck brought home Wakefield in the eighth adding an insurance run (6-4).
 
In the bottom of the ninth, the Crusaders would get runners on the corners with no outs.  Schuck then threw out Stringer attempting to steal second and the two next batters flew out to end the game.
 
FMU sophomore righty Halton Hardy started on the mound, tossing five innings and allowing three runs on four hits.
 
NGU reliever Brent Herlong (1-1) was tagged with the loss as the Crusaders fell to 8-4 and 2-2.
 
 
Francis Marion 6, North Greenville 4 (Feb 25, 2022 at Tigerville, SC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 000 000 510  -  6  9  1      (7-4, 2-2 CC)
North Greenville.... 030 001 000  -  4  8  1      (8-4, 2-2 CC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion - Halton Hardy; Reece Kleinhelter(6); Nick Palumbo(9) and Isaac Schuck.
North Greenville - J. Cash; N. Takac(5); B. Herlong(7); G. Hickert(9) and J. Faile.
Win-Reece Kleinhelter(1-0)  Save-Nick Palumbo(2)  Loss-B. Herlong(1-1)  T-2:58  A-386
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 71 Degrees
Kleinhelter faced 1 batter in the 9th.
 
GAME NOTES
» Every Francis Marion starter reached base safely in the win.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed five runs across.
» The Patriots out-hit the Crusaders at a 9-8 clip.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 40 North Greenville hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out four.
» Schuck led the Patriots at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
» North Greenville was led offensively by junior Cory Bivins, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.
» Sophomore Jax Cash led the Crusaders pitching staff, throwing four scoreless innings.