FLORENCE, SC – Graduate student right fielder Will Hardee, playing the final home game of his storied career, doubled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Francis Marion University a 2-1 win over Barton College, Sunday afternoon (April 16) in Conference Carolinas baseball action.
 
Francis Marion, now 24-20 overall and 15-11 in conference play, will play a non-conference contest at Lander University on Tuesday at 6 p.m.  The Patriots will conclude their regular season next weekend with a key three-game series at the University of Mount Olive.
 
Hardee, a native of nearby Evergreen and a product of South Florence High School, ends his home career with a program-record 60 doubles, a figure that also leads all active NCAA Division II players. Playing in his 191st career contest, Hardee has 279 career hits and is now within eight of the school record total of 287 set by Michael Wilson.
 
With two hits on Sunday, Hardee also owns a current 16-game hitting streak and a streak of safely reaching base of 28 contests.
 
With the score knotted at 1-1, the eighth-inning winning rally started with a one-out double to left field by junior shortstop Blake Falor.  On a fly out to center, Falor advanced to third.  Sophomore center fielder Caleb Oakley walked to put runners on the corners with two outs. Hardee then hit the first pitch he saw from Barton reliever Brett Anderson high into the air into shallow left center field.  The ball eluded the shortstop, left fielder, and center fielder as all gave chase, allowing Falor to score the go-ahead run.
 
Sophomore right-hander Josh Adams then retired the Bulldogs (22-17, 15-9) in order in the top of the ninth to record his third save of the year.  Senior righty Ben Thornton (3-1), the fourth of five FMU hurlers, earned the victory as he pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
 
FMU senior right-handed starter Matt Dooley twirled 5.1 strong innings, surrendering only one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
 
The Patriots broke up a scoreless deadlock in the fourth inning.  Sophomore first baseman Kollin Crepeau led off with a double – a ball hit to left that saw the left field lose his footing as he prepared to make the catch.  One batter later, he moved to third on a wild pitch, and then scored when senior catcher Isaac Schuck hit into a double play.
 
The Bulldogs tied the contest in the sixth when designated hitter Tanner Halvorson scored on a wild pitch.
 
Brett Widerman (2-5) pitched 7.2 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
 
Thirteen Patriot seniors were honored on the field prior to first pitch, in addition to three other FMU players who were honored last season, all played their final home contest on Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium. 
 
Francis Marion has won 11 of its last 12 contests to climb into fifth place in the standings.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 2, Barton College 1 (Apr 16, 2023 at Florence, SC)
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Barton College........ 000 001 000  -  1  3  0      (22-17, 15-9 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 100 01X  -  2  7  0      (24-20, 15-11 CC)
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Pitchers: Barton College - Brett Widerman; Brett Anderson(8) and James Holladay.
Francis Marion Univ. - Matt Dooley; Austin Moore(6); Connor Kirkley(7); Ben Thornton(8);
Josh Adams(9) and Isaac Schuck.
Win-Ben Thornton(3-1)  Save-Josh Adams(3)  Loss-Brett Widerman(2-5)  T-2:11  A-129
Weather: sunny, 72, winds NE @ 8 mph