NEWBERRY, SC – Fifth-year outfielder
Will Hardee picked up from his success last season by extending his hitting streak to 27 games, but Francis Marion University fell 8-3 to Newberry College, Friday evening (Feb. 3) in non-conference baseball action.
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Francis Marion (0-1) will play again at Newberry on Saturday (Feb. 4) with the first pitch at 2 p.m. The Patriots then return for their home opener against Newberry on Sunday at 2 p.m.
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Hardee's hitting streak is currently third on the FMU all-time list behind Michael Bartell (30) from 1988-89 and Greg Phelps (34) from 2007-08.
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Junior right-hander
Landon Mills (0-1) made his debut for the Patriots, tossing two innings and collecting three strikeouts while taking the loss. Senior righty
Austin Moore did throw two shutout innings, while allowing one hit and striking out one.
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Junior outfielder
Zack Summerville led the Patriots with two hits, including a double.
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Francis Marion faced an 8-2 deficit in the eighth inning, when Hardee extended his hitting streak with a single through the left side of the infield to bring home Summerville.
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The Wolves (1-0) scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the third to build a 6-0 advantage. Â Newberry starter Joe LaFiora recorded six shutout innings, while allowing only one hit and fanning seven.
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FMU rallied in the seventh when with the bases loaded, sophomore infielder
Kollin Crepeau reached on a fielder's choice and brought home Hardee. A throwing error by the Wolves then scored junior designated hitter
Alex Elliott and advanced Crepeau to second and cutting the deficit to five runs. Newberry added an insurance tally in their next at-bat to go up 8-2.
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Newberry College 8, Francis Marion 3 (2/3/2023 at Newberry, S.C.)
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Francis Marion......... 000 000 210Â -Â 3Â 3Â 0Â Â Â Â Â (0-1)
Newberry College.... 105 100 10XÂ -Â 8 14Â 3Â Â Â Â Â (1-0)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Landon Mills;
Cory Poulsen(3);
Danny Leo(4);
Austin Moore(7) and
Isaac Schuck. Newberry College - Joe LaFiora; Devin
Makovsky(7); Wesley Livingston(7); Kenny Miller(9) and Rhett Jolly.
Win-Joe LaFiora (1-0)Â Loss-
Landon Mills (0-1)Â T-2:49Â A-217
Weather: Mid 50s and sunny
Mills faced 5 batters in the 3rd.
D. Makovsky faced 2 batters in the 7th.
Leo faced 2 batters in the 7th.
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