TIGERVILLE, SC – North Greenville University scored six runs in the eighth inning to rally for an 8-7 victory over Francis Marion University and to complete a sweep of Saturday afternoon's (Feb. 26) Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader. The Crusaders won the opener 15-6.
FMU (7-6, 2-4) will host Shepherd University for a pair of games this week: Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 1 p.m.
The Patriots led 7-2 heading to the bottom of the eighth inning, but surrendered six runs, the final and difference-maker being a solo homer by Ethan Stringer.
FMU closer
Nick Palumbo (0-1) came out of the bullpen for Francis Marion and took the loss. Freshman
Robbie Jordan was a bright spot for the Patriots, starting the ballgame and throwing seven innings, giving up two runs (both earned) on six hits, with no walks and six strikeouts.
Senior designated hitter
Leniel Gonzalez led the way offensively for the Patriots, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
The Patriots opened the scoring in the first frame of game two, plating four runs. Senior third baseman
Todd Mattox doubled in the first run, senior catcher
Lex Tuten hit a sacrifice fly to account for the second tally, and graduate student first baseman
Darius Nobles followed with a two-run homer.
Mattox extended his streak of safely reaching base to 56 games dating back to the 2020 season.
Francis Marion added a fifth run on freshman shortstop
Tyler Reynolds' leadoff home run in the second. The team traded singles runs in the third as the Patriots held a 6-1 advantage.
Tuten delivered an RBI-double in the fifth, before NGU's Jordan Holladay homered in the sixth to leave FMU holding a 7-2 margin.
In the opener, three Patriots recorded two hits apiece: Gonzalez, senior second baseman
Tanner Wakefield, and Reynolds. Wakefield's performance included a double, a triple, a walk, and an RBI, while both Gonzalez and Tuten homered.
Sophomore righty
Connor Kirkley (2-2) started and took the loss.
The Patriots took a 2-1 lead in the second when Wakefield tripled home a run and then scored on an RBI-ground out by junior shortstop
Naphis Llanos. However, the Crusaders responded by scoring 12 unanswered runs over the next three innings.
North Greenville 15, Francis Marion 6 (Feb 26, 2022 at Tigerville, SC) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 020 002 2 - 6 10 2 (7-5, 2-3 CC)
North Greenville.... 153 411 X - 15 13 0 (9-4, 3-2 CC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Connor Kirkley;
Cory Poulsen(3);
Chas DeBruhl(5) and
Isaac Schuck;
Caleb Oakley. North Greenville - R. Fields; N. Ingle(6); Mintz, Jr(7) and J. Faile.
Win-R. Fields(2-1) Loss-
Connor Kirkley(2-2) T-2:36 A-285
HR FMU -
Leniel Gonzalez (1);
Lex Tuten (2).
HR NGU - M. Chlup (2); C. Bivins (1).
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 51 Degrees
GAME 1 NOTES
» Francis Marion's power output was led by Wakefield, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed two runs across.
» Francis Marion went 4-for-8 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 37 North Greenville hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and five fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Patriots drew four walks from North Greenville pitching.
» Gonzalez led the Patriots at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run and an RBI.
» North Greenville was led offensively by junior Cory Bivins, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs.
» Sophomore Reece Fields led the Crusaders pitching staff, throwing five innings of two-run ball.
North Greenville 8, Francis Marion 7 (Feb 26, 2022 at Tigerville, SC) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 411 010 000 - 7 9 0 (7-6, 2-4 CC)
North Greenville.... 001 001 06X - 8 11 1 (10-4, 4-2 CC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Robbie Jordan;
Ben Thornton(8);
Nick Palumbo(8) and
Lex Tuten.
North Greenville - M. Taubensee; T. Skipper(3); D. Taylor(6); T. Hudson(7) and J. Cash.
Win-T. Hudson(2-0) Loss-
Nick Palumbo(0-1) T-2:42 A-297
HR FMU -
Darius Nobles (4);
Tyler Reynolds (1).
HR NGU - E. Stringer (2); J. Holladay (6); C. Bivins (2).
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 57 Degrees
D. Taylor faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Game: BS2-26B
GAME 2 NOTES
» Senior
Leniel Gonzalez led the Patriots, amassing three hits in the ballgame.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed four runs across.
» Jordan put together seven innings of two-run ball for Francis Marion.
» Francis Marion went 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 38 North Greenville hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out seven.
» Nobles led the Patriots at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.
» North Greenville was led offensively by junior Cory Bivins, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
» Freshman Tristen Hudson led the Crusaders pitching staff, throwing three scoreless innings.
