FLORENCE, SC – Senior right fielder Will Hardee registered four hits and five runs batted in during Saturday's (Feb. 18) Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader to help lead Francis Marion University past Chowan University 12-2 in game one and 11-1 in game two.
 
Francis Marion, now 5-5 overall and 2-0 in conference play, will host Chowan for the finale of the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
In game one, senior right-hander Nick Palumbo (1-2) went five innings, giving up one unearned run on four hits, while walking no batters and striking out six.  Junior righty Danny Leo tossed three quality innings out of the bullpen and junior righty Connor Kirkley recorded a scoreless ninth inning.
 
FMU compiled 12 hits, including a two-run double by Hardee in the first frame. Hardee had three hits along with a walk and three RBIs in the first game. Senior second baseman Naphis Llanos had two hits in four trips to the plate, while adding a walk and two RBIs. Junior centerfielder Zack Summerville registered two singles and was walked three times, while graduate student outfielder Tanner Wakefield grabbed a double and three RBIs.
 
The Hawks pushed in one run the following inning off a Warren Bailey sacrifice fly.
 
The Patriots would build on their tight one-run lead in the fourth inning.  Junior shortstop Blake Falor singled in a run and Summerville walked with the bases loaded to give FMU a 4-1 advantage.  With the bases still loaded, Llanos punched a shot through the middle to score two. The fourth inning would also add a sacrifice fly from junior designated hitter Alex Elliott and an RBI-single by sophomore first baseman Tyler Reynolds to bring the score to 10-1.
 
Francis Marion would add two insurance runs in the seventh on a 2-run double down the left field line by Wakefield.
 
In game two, FMU sophomore right-hander Robbie Jordan (1-0) started on the mound and picked up the win. The Florence native threw six shutout innings, before allowing a run in the seventh.  He gave up six hits, allowed two walks, and fanned 11 batters.
 
Freshmen catcher Tucker Rabun led the Patriots in game two with two hits and two runs scored. Sophomore Kollin Crepeau recorded his first hit as a Patriot, a pinch-hit screamer down the right field line to score two runners.
 
The Patriots got on the board in the third inning, with Hardee's two-run single. Francis Marion then plated five runs off Chowan starter Nicky Wohleking (0-2) in the fourth, three of which came home on a two-out dropped fly ball in center field. Summerville grabbed an RBI off a single to center field in the frame.
 
FMU scored a run on a wild pitch in the fifth and tallied three scores in the sixth – on a Wakefield run-scoring single and Crepeau's hit – to push the margin to 11-0.
 
On the opening day of the series, FMU outscored the Hawks 23-3.

 
Francis Marion Univ. 12, Chowan University 2 (Feb 18, 2023 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Chowan University... 010 000 010  -  2 10  0      (0-7, 0-1)
Francis Marion Univ. 200 800 20X  - 12 12  1      (4-5, 1-0)
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Pitchers: Chowan University - Shane Rademacher; Cody Ives(4); Matthew Lovitt(7); Jacob Walker(8)
and Warren Bailey. Francis Marion Univ. - Nick Palumbo; Danny Leo(6); Connor Kirkley(9) and
Isaac Schuck.
Win-Nick Palumbo (1-2)  Loss-Shane Rademacher (0-2)  T-3:00  A-215
Weather: 42 degrees,sunny,winds S 8 mph
 
Francis Marion Univ. 11, Chowan University 1 (Feb 18, 2023 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Chowan University... 000 000 1 -  1  6  5      (0-8, 0-2)
Francis Marion Univ. 002 513 X - 11 11  0      (5-5, 2-0)
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Pitchers: Chowan University - Nicky Wohleking; Angel Diaz(5) and Geomar Santana.
Francis Marion Univ. - Robbie Jordan; Jack Hegan(7) and Tucker Rabun.
Win-Robbie Jordan (1-0)  Loss-Nicky Wohleking (0-2)  T-1:45
Weather: 54 degrees, sunny, 4mph S wind