WILSON, N.C. -- Francis Marion University fell 4-3 in a 12-inning marathon to Barton College, Saturday afternoon (March 5) in Conference Carolinas baseball action.
 
Francis Marion (9-7, 2-5) will stay in Wilson, N.C., and face Barton for a doubleheader Sunday starting at 11 a.m.
 
Senior righty Reece Kleinhelter (1-1) took the loss for FMU going 5.2 innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing no walks and striking out two. Sophomore Halton Hardy started the game on the mound and went 5.2 innings, surrendering three runs, two earned runs, on eight hits, walking one and striking out five.
 
At the plate, the Patriots were led by senior first baseman Leniel Gonzalez, who went 1-for-5 on the day with a home run and two runners batted in. Senior center fielder Bill Hanna went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.  Patriot senior third baseman Todd Mattox extended his streak of safely reaching base to 59 games with an 11th-inning walk.
 
The Patriots were trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning when Hanna doubled with two outs to bring in junior shortstop Naphis Llanos, after Llanos singled to right field.
 
The Bulldogs expanded their lead to 3-1 before the Patriots offense got back to work, tying it up in the eighth inning. Francis Marion's Gonzalez hit a two-run homer that would score senior right fielder Will Hardee and even the score at 3-3.
 
Barton's Carelle Gonzalez hit a two-out walk-off single to left field to break the tie after four scoreless innings.
 
Barton (11-5, 6-1) righty Michael Yuille grabbed the win for the Bulldogs in relief.
 

Barton 4, Francis Marion 3 (Mar 05, 2022 at Wilson, N.C.)
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Francis Marion...... 000 010 020 000  -  3  7  1      (9-7, 2-5 CC)
Barton................... 100 101 000 001  -  4 13  2      (11-5, 6-1 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Halton Hardy; Reece Kleinhelter (6); Cory Poulsen (12) and Isaac Schuck. Barton - Alex Hart; Michael Yuille (11) and James Holladay.
Win-Michael Yuille (3-1)  Loss-Reece Kleinhelter (1-1)  T-3:10  A-125
HR FMU - Leniel Gonzalez (2).
Weather: 75, clear, very nice
 
GAME NOTES
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed two runs across.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 47 Barton hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and 14 fly balls while striking out seven.
» Gonzalez led the Patriots at the plate, going 1-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.
» Barton was led offensively by sophomore Carelle Gonzalez, who went 2-for-6 with an RBI.
» Senior Alex Hart led the Bulldogs pitching staff, throwing 10 innings of three-run ball.