MURFREESBORO, NC – Senior right fielder
Will Hardee racked up six hits in Saturday's (April 16) Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader to help lead Francis Marion University past Chowan University 20-5 in game one and 17-1 in game two. The Patriots scored double-figure runs in each game of the series.
Francis Marion, now 27-13 overall and 15-9 in conference play, will visit former Peach Belt Conference opponent Augusta University on Wednesday (April 20) at 3 p.m. The Patriots have won 12 of their last 14 games.
In game one, freshman right-hander
Robbie Jordan (7-2) went six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits, while walking one and striking out three.
FMU hit five home runs, including a three-run shot by senior
Lex Tuten. Senior third baseman
Todd Mattox had four hits along with a walk and two runners batted in. Junior second baseman
Naphis Llanos had three hits in six trips to the plate while adding a home run and three RBIs. Hardee registered two singles and an RBI in game one.
The Patriots got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Francis Marion plated two runs when senior first baseman
Leniel Gonzalez left the yard with Mattox on base.
The Hawks failed to push any runs across before the Patriots built on their lead in the fourth inning. Francis Marion hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing seven runs across, which brought the score to 9-0 in favor of the Patriots. Chowan narrowed Francis Marion's lead to 9-2 before the Patriots stretched the advantage to 17-2 in the sixth inning. The Patriots hit two home runs from Tuten and Llanos in the inning on the way to scoring eight runs.
In game two, junior right-hander
Matt Dooley (5-0) started on the mound and picked up the win. The righty went five shutout innings while giving up five hits, allowing three walks, and striking out seven. Senior righty
Reece Kleinhelter tossed three scoreless innings while allowing one hit, with no walks, and three strikeouts.
Hardee extended his hitting streak to 18 games. In addition to his four hits in game two, Hardee had a double, a home run, a walk, and three RBIs to lead the Patriots. Senior designated hitter
Darius Nobles went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs. Senior center fielder
Bill Hanna also contributed for Francis Marion, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding a home run and an RBI. The Lake City native also homered in game one, giving him three long balls for the week.
The Patriots got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Francis Marion plated two runs off of Chowan pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of Nobles.
The Patriots held Chowan off the scoreboard before expanding their lead to 17-0 in the top of the ninth. Francis Marion hit two home runs from Nobles and Hardee in the inning on the way to pushing 12 runs across. Chowan put one run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the ninth.
In sweeping the three-game series, FMU outscored the Hawks 64-7.
Francis Marion 20, Chowan 5 (Apr 16, 2022 at Murfreesboro, N.C.) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 200 708 3 - 20 24 2 (26-13, 14-9 CC)
Chowan.............. 000 200 3 - 5 8 1 (8-26, 3-20 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Robbie Jordan;
Brock Rodgers(7) and . Chowan - Shane Rademacher;
Carson Everette(2); Alex Brown(5); Welington Mariano(6) and .
Win-
Robbie Jordan (7-2) Loss-Carson Everette (2-3) T-2:25 A-84
HR FMU -
Naphis Llanos (3);
Leniel Gonzalez (7);
Isaac Schuck (1);
Lex Tuten (3);
Bill Hanna (2); CHOWAN - Tyler West (9).
Weather: overcast, 59*
GAME 1 NOTES
» Mattox racked up four hits on the day for Francis Marion.
» The Patriots power output was led by
Tanner Wakefield, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Tuten drove in four runs for Francis Marion.
» Every Francis Marion starter reached base safely in the win.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed eight runs across.
» Francis Marion took a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Jordan put together six innings of two-run ball for the Patriots.
» Eight Patriots had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Francis Marion hitters hit five homers in the ballgame.
» The Patriots had a total of 24 hits.
» The Patriots out-hit the Hawks at a 24-8 clip.
» Francis Marion went 10-for-17 (.588) with runners in scoring position.
» The Patriots got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Francis Marion pitchers limited Chowan to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 31 Chowan hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out six.
» The Patriots drew four walks from Chowan pitching.
» Tuten led the Patriots at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI.
» Chowan was led offensively by sophomore Tyler West, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
» Junior Shane Rademacher led the Hawks pitching staff, throwing one inning of two-run ball.
Francis Marion 17, Chowan 1 (Apr 16, 2022 at Murfreesboro, N.C.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 201 110 00(12) - 17 18 0 (27-13, 15-9 CC)
Chowan.............. 000 000 001 - 1 8 4 (8-27, 3-21 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Matt Dooley;
Reece Kleinhelter(6);
Cory Poulsen(9) and . Chowan -
Jarret Henderson; Caleb Peterson(6); DeeJay Seelbach(9); Carrington Williams(9) and .
Win-
Matt Dooley(5-0) Loss-Jarret Henderson(1-3) T-2:53 A-84
HR FMU -
Will Hardee (2);
Darius Nobles (12);
Bill Hanna (3).
Weather: overcast
GAME 2 NOTES
» Hardee collected four hits on the day for Francis Marion.
» Dooley struck out seven Hawks hitters.
» The Patriots had both Nobles and Hardee smack multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Three different Patriots drove in three runs. » The Francis Marion pitching staff combined to strike out 13 Chowan hitters.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the ninth, when it pushed 12 runs across.
» Francis Marion grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Six Patriots had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Francis Marion hitters hit three dingers in the ballgame.
» The Patriots had a total of 18 hits.
» The Patriots out-hit the Hawks at an 18-8 clip.
» Francis Marion went 9-for-16 (.563) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers limited Chowan to just 2-for-10 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 40 Chowan hitters in the game, allowing two ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out 13.
» The Patriots drew four walks from Chowan pitching.
» Hardee led the Patriots at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
» Chowan was led offensively by freshman Joshua James, who went 1-for-5 with an RBI.
