FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore right-hander Robbie Jordan pitched eight strong innings and Francis Marion University rode a trio of first-inning doubles to a 3-1 win over Southern Wesleyan University, Friday evening (Mar. 31) in Conference Carolinas baseball action.
 
Francis Marion improves to 16-19 overall and 9-10 in conference play with its third straight win, while Southern Wesleyan drops to 12-20 and 7-9.  With the victory, the Patriots climb into seventh place in the league standings.
 
The two teams will conclude their three-game weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 3 p.m. on FMU's Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium.  Please note the later start time to avoid mid-day weather.
 
Graduate student second baseman Tanner Wakefield led Francis Marion at the plate with three hits and a walk, while both junior left fielder Zack Summerville and sophomore center fielder Caleb Oakley had two hits at the top of the Patriot lineup.
 
Jordan (3-3), a native of Florence and a product of Florence Christian School, scattered seven hits, while fanning six and issuing only one walk.  The Patriot defense turned three double plays behind Jordan.  Sophomore righty Josh Adams retired the Warriors in order in the ninth to record his second save of 2023.
 
Back-to-back-to-back doubles by Oakley, graduate student right fielder Will Hardee, and sophomore first baseman Kollin Crepeau staked the Patriots to a 2-0 first-inning lead.
 
The Warriors put runners on the corners with no outs in the second, but FMU freshman third baseman Charlie Bussey III nearly single-handily kept SWU off the board.  He fielded a grounder and threw home to nab a runner at home and then fielded another grounder, tagged third for the force, and threw to first to complete the inning-ending double play.
 
A two-out run-scoring single to right field by Warrior shortstop Dawson Gilstrap trimmed the margin to 2-1 in the top of the fifth.  However, Francis Marion restored its two-run advantage in the sixth with a manufactured run.  Senior designated hitter Naphis Llanos led off with an infield single, went to second on a wild pitch and to third on a sacrifice bunt by Bussey III, before coming home on a sacrifice fly by junior shortstop Blake Falor.
 
Southpaw starter Cord Babcock (2-7) was charged with the loss.
 
Hardee, a native of Evergreen and a graduate of South Florence High School, is second among all active NCAA Division II players with 55 career doubles, and he holds the FMU career record for two-baggers.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 3, Southern Wesleyan U. 1 (Mar 31, 2023 at Florence, SC)
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Southern Wesleyan U. 000 010 000  -  1  7  0      (12-20, 7-9 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 200 001 00X  -  3 10  1      (16-19, 9-10 CC)
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Pitchers: Southern Wesleyan U. - Cord Babcock; Andrew Patterson(6); Aidan Evans(8);
Sandy Johnson(8) and Tyler Jackson. Francis Marion Univ. - Robbie Jordan; Josh Adams(9) and
Isaac Schuck.
Win-Robbie Jordan (3-3)  Save-Josh Adams (2)  Loss-Cord Babcock (2-7)  T-2:27  A-186
Weather: cloudy, 78, winds NE @ 13 mph
Evans, A faced 1 batter in the 8th.