CENTRAL, SC – Graduate student Tanner Wakefield racked up eight hits in Saturday's (April 2) Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader to help lead Francis Marion University past Southern Wesleyan University 16-4 in game one and 19-5 in game two. The Patriots have scored double-figure runs in six of their last seven conference games. 
 
Francis Marion, now 20-12 overall and 10-8 in conference play, will play host to the defending national champions and currently second-ranked Wingate University on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium. 
 
Senior third baseman Todd Mattox was walked twice in the first game and hit by a pitch in the second game (in addition to three hits) to extend his streak of safely reaching base to 75 games dating back to the 2020 season.  He is only 13 games shy of the NCAA Division II record. 
 
In game one, Wakefield's four hits included two doubles, a home run, and three runs batted in to lead the Patriots. Senior designated hitter Leniel Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Junior second baseman Naphis Llanos also helped out with three hits in six trips to the plate, while adding a double and two RBIs. 
 
Freshman right-hander Robbie Jordan (5-2) started on the mound and picked up the win for Francis Marion in game one. The Florence native went four innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on seven hits, allowing one walk, and striking out two batters. Senior righty Daniel Twitty tossed three scoreless innings while allowing only three hits to earn his first save of 2022 and second as a Patriot. 
 
In game two, Wakefield and senior designated hitter Darius Nobles each racked up four hits to help lead the Patriots. In addition to Nobles' four hits, he had a double and two RBIs, while Wakefield added a double and three RBIs.  These were Wakefield's second and third four-hit games in eight days. 
 
Llanos chipped in two hits in four trips to the plate, including the second home run of his Patriot career, three walks, and two RBIs. 
 
Francis Marion scored in 14 of 16 innings on Saturday en route to the series sweep. The Patriots registered a season-high 21 hits in game one, then bettered that with 24 hits in the second game which is the most in a game in six seasons for FMU.  
 
Junior right-hander Matt Dooley (4-0) got the win for Francis Marion. The righty went five innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on eight hits, allowing one walk, and striking out three. Reynolds also spent some time on the mound, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit, walking none, and striking out one. 
 
Senior centerfielder Bill Hanna and graduate student left fielder Lex Tuten each added five hits and three RBIs on the day.
 
Jake Wisniewski (2-2) picked up the loss in game one for SWU and Ash Faulk (0-1) was tagged with game two's defeat. 
 
 
Francis Marion 16, Southern Wesleyan 4 (Apr 02, 2022 at Central, SC) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion.......... 122 523 1 - 16 21  0      (19-12, 9-8 CC)
Southern Wesleyan... 000 400 0 -  4 10  3      (7-26, 2-18 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Robbie Jordan; Daniel Twitty(5) and Lex Tuten; Daulton Dabbs.
Southern Wesleyan - Jake Wisniewski; TJ McEvilly(4); Devyn Bond(6); Josh Fenton(7) and
Will Pitts.
Win-Robbie Jordan (5-2)  Save-Daniel Twitty (1)  Loss-Jake Wisniewski (2-2)  T-2:45  A-98
HR FMU - Tanner Wakefield.
Weather: Sunny, few clouds
McEvilly, TJ faced 4 batters in the 6th.
 
GAME 1 NOTES
» Wakefield collected four hits on the day for Francis Marion.
» Francis Marion got a fantastic power hitting day from Wakefield, who reached safely with three extra base hits.
» Every Francis Marion starter reached base safely in the win.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed five runs across.
» Francis Marion grabbed a 1-0 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.
» The Patriots had a total of 21 hits.
» The Patriots out-hit the Warriors at a 21-10 clip.
» Francis Marion went 13-for-28 (.464) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers limited Southern Wesleyan to just 2-for-10 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 35 Southern Wesleyan hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out two.
» The Patriots drew five walks from Southern Wesleyan pitching.
» Wakefield led the Patriots at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs.
» Southern Wesleyan was led offensively by junior Josh Galloway, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
» Sophomore Devyn Bond led the Warriors pitching staff, throwing one shutout inning.
 
 
Francis Marion 19, Southern Wesleyan 5 (Apr 02, 2022 at Central, SC) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion.......... 621 102 205  - 19 24  1      (20-12, 10-8 CC)
Southern Wesleyan... 003 101 000  -  5 10  1      (7-27, 2-19 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Matt Dooley; Jack Hegan(6); Cory Poulsen(8); Tyler Reynolds(9) and
Josh Cowan; Daulton Dabbs. Southern Wesleyan - Ash Faulk; Sean Sutay(2); Devyn Bond(5);
Josh Fenton(7); Cooper Davidson(9); Andrew Patterson(9) and Juan Garcia; Dawson Posick.
Win-Matt Dooley(4-0)  Loss-Ash Faulk(0-1)  T-3:00  A-89
HR FMU - Naphis Llanos; SWU - Chance Fogel; Josh Asbill.
Davidson, C faced 5 batters in the 9th.
 
GAME 2 NOTES
» Francis Marion got four-hit games from both Wakefield and Nobles.
» The Patriots power output was led by senior Mattox, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Every Francis Marion starter reached base safely in the win.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed six runs across.
» Francis Marion grabbed a 6-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Eight Patriots had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Patriots had a total of 24 hits.
» The Patriots out-hit the Warriors at a 24-10 clip.
» Francis Marion went 13-for-26 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers limited Southern Wesleyan to just 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 40 Southern Wesleyan hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 14 fly balls while striking out six.
» The Patriots drew five walks from Southern Wesleyan pitching.
» Llanos led the Patriots at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
» Southern Wesleyan was led offensively by junior Chance Fogel, who went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.
» Sophomore Andrew Patterson led the Warriors pitching staff, throwing one shutout inning.