AUGUSTA, GA – Junior shortstop Naphis Llanos drilled a two-out, two-run single to left field in the top of the ninth inning to give Francis Marion University a 12-10 come-from-behind victory over Augusta University, Wednesday afternoon (April 20) in non-conference baseball action.

Francis Marion, now 28-13, has won 13 of its last 15 games. The Patriots will entertain local-rival UNC Pembroke for a key Conference Carolinas series this weekend beginning with a single game on Friday at 6 p.m.
 
Senior right fielder Will Hardee led FMU with three hits, including two doubles, and four runs batted in. The South Florence High School product came into the contest ranked fifth nationally in doubles with a conference-leading total of 17.
 
Graduate student left fielder Lex Tuten also had three hits and drove in two runs, while junior catcher Isaac Schuck and Llanos both finished with two hits and two and three RBIs respectively.
 
Francis Marion, the NCAA Division II leader in total hits and third nationally in team average (.358), registered 14 hits on Wednesday.
 
Senior right-handed reliever Nick Palumbo (2-1) got the win, while junior righty Ben Thornton pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his second save.
 
Trailing 2-0, the Patriots tallied five runs in the second inning, including a two-run double by Hardee and a two-run single from Schuck.
 
The Jaguars rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 7-5 lead.  FMU trimmed the margin to 7-6 in the third on an RBI-single off the bat of Tuten.
 
Augusta built its lead to 9-6 before Francis Marion rallied with four runs in the eighth. Hardee doubled home the first two runs, followed by RBI-hits from Llanos and senior third baseman Todd Mattox.
 
The Jaguars tied the game at 10-10 in the last of the eighth setting the stage for Llanos' game-winning hit in the ninth.  It was proceeded by a lead-off single by Tuten, a walk by Schuck, and a sacrifice bunt from senior center fielder Bill Hanna.
 
 
Francis Marion 12, Augusta University 10 (2/20/22 at Augusta, GA)
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Francis Marion...... 051 000 042  - 12 14  1      (28-13)
Augusta University.. 250 002 010  - 10 10  1      (14-26)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Austin Moore; Tyler Reynolds(3); Daniel Twitty(7); Nick Palumbo(8);
Ben Thornton(9) and Isaac Schuck. Augusta University - Dominique Canale; Cody Schneider(2);
Cotton Phillips(2); Brian Trepanier(3); Eli McMullen(5); Alex Brown(6); Nyle Grove(7);
Britt Kelly(7); Jasper Dubberly(8) and Charlie Erickson; Kyle LaRoche.
Win-Nick Palumbo(2-1)  Save-Ben Thornton(2)  Loss-Jasper Dubberly(0-2)  T-3:40  A-65
HR AUGBSB22 - Ben Markiewi; Walker Sinclair; Harrison Aulds.
 
GAME NOTES
» Francis Marion got three-hit games from both Hardee and Tuten.
» The Patriots power output was led by Hardee, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Hardee 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 second, when it pushed five runs across.
» Four Patriots had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Patriots out-hit the Jaguars at a 14-10 clip.
» Francis Marion went 8-for-16 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 45 Augusta hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 13 fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Patriots drew six walks from Augusta pitching.
» Hardee led the Patriots at the plate, going 3-for-6 with two doubles and four RBI.
» Augusta was led offensively by junior Ben Markiewi, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and four RBI.
» Sophomore Dominique Canale led the Jaguars pitching staff, throwing one shutout inning.