MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Patriot sophomore center fielder Caleb Oakley racked up four hits with three runs scored in a down-to-the-wire doubleheader with the 9th-ranked University of Mount Olive, but Francis Marion University ultimately fell 5-4 in game one and 8-7 in game two, both on walk-off hits, Friday night, (April 21) in Conference Carolinas baseball action.
 
Francis Marion sits at 24-23 overall, while holding a 15-13 record in league play and will play its final regular-season contest with the series finale versus Mount Olive on Sunday (April 23) at 2 p.m.
 
In game one, sophomore right-hander Robbie Jordan started the contest tossing six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits, while walking one. Senior closer Ben Thornton (3-2) picked up the close loss going 1.1 innings.
 
Senior third baseman Naphis Llanos and Oakley led the Patriots with two hits apiece, while four Patriots grabbed one hit at the plate and three of those Patriots recorded runs batted in. 
 
The Trojans plated two runs in the first two frames including two scores that would both come home on double plays.
 
The Patriots would then score one run in three consecutive innings, beginning with an RBI-single from junior left fielder Zack Summerville in the third, followed by an RBI-double from graduate student right fielder Will Hardee to tie the score at 2-2 in the fourth, and lastly with an RBI-single from junior shortstop Blake Falor to pull in front 3-2 in the fifth.
 
Mount Olive answered with a double to begin the bottom of the fifth and would ultimately plate that runner from a fielding error by FMU to draw even at 3-3.
 
In the seventh, the Trojans took a 4-3 advantage, but FMU evened the score at 4-4 after the graduate student second baseman Tanner Wakefield singled through the left side to plate Oakley.
 
FMU had two runners in scoring position with one out in the top of the ninth, but Mount Olive was able to get two more outs with no one scoring. The Trojans walked it off with one out after Mike Kenney homered over the left-field wall to win 5-4.
 
Junior reliever Hayden Myrick (2-1) earned the win for Mount Olive (30-10, 16-8) throwing one scoreless inning. 
 
In game two, FMU junior southpaw Chas DeBruhl started on the rubber pitching four innings allowing three runs on five hits, walking three, and striking out four. Senior reliever Austin Moore (2-2) was tagged with the tough loss.
 
Wakefield, Oakley, and freshman designated hitter Charlie Bussey III led Francis Marion at the plate going 2-of-4, while four other Patriots picked up a hit apiece. Wakefield and Hardee led with two RBIs at the dish.
 
Hardee now has 118 career walks and is tied for the school record set by Derrick Roadcap (1991-94). He also stands at 282 career hits, now within five of the school record total of 287 set by Michael Wilson. In the process, Hardee extended his hitting streak to 19 games and his streak of safely reaching base to 31 contests.
 
Both sides traded runs in the first inning with Summerville scoring off a throwing error by the pitcher and the Trojans tying the score from a Vito Patierno blast over the left field fence.
 
Mount Olive plated two runs over the next two innings to jump up 3-1, with a double in the second and an RBI-groundout in the third.
 
Bussey III smashed a double down the left field line in the fourth to pull the Patriots within one at 3-2. A double in the fifth by Hardee scored Oakley to even it up after the center fielder singled and stole second. Wakefield then connected for a two-run home run to left field to bump the Patriots ahead 5-3.
 
In the sixth inning, Bussey III scored on a wild pitch to extend the Patriot lead to 6-3 before the Trojans followed up with a huge three-run frame. An RBI single by Patierno and a two-run single by Landon Choboy evened the score at 6-6.
 
After no score in the seventh, the two squads both plated one run in the eighth inning at 7-7. Hardee scored Summerville from the hot corner and Mount Olive responded by scoring on a wild pitch to extend the battle.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, the Trojans brought across the winning run after Dylan Jeffries singled to left field with two outs to plate Joshua Jones.
 
Junior right-hander Andrew Ledbetter (3-2) grabbed the win for Mount Olive tossing one inning, allowing one hit, walking one, and striking out two.
 
 
#9 Mount Olive 5, Francis Marion 4 (Apr 21, 2023 at Mount Olive, NC) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 001 110 010  -  4  8  2      (24-22, 15-12 CC)
Mount Olive.......... 110 010 101  -  5  9  0      (30-10, 16-8 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Robbie Jordan; Connor Kirkley(7); Cory Poulsen(7); Ben Thornton(8) and Isaac Schuck. Mount Olive - Dawson Gause; Ethan Imbimbo(5); Hayden Myrick(9) and Mike Kenney.
Win-Hayden Myrick (3-1)  Loss-Ben Thornton (3-2)  T-2:35  A-204
HR UMO - Mike Kenney (1).
Weather: 84, Sunny
 
#9 Mount Olive 8, Francis Marion 7 (Apr 21, 2023 at Mount Olive, NC) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 100 131 010  -  7 10  5      (24-23, 15-13 CC)
Mount Olive…....... 111 003 011  -  8 13  2      (31-10, 17-8 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Chas DeBruhl; Tyler Reynolds(5); Josh Adams(5); Jack Hegan(8); Austin Moore(9) and Isaac Schuck. Mount Olive - Erik Johnson; Trey Deutsch(5); Cole Newgaard(6); Andrew Ledbetter(9) and Mike Kenney.
Win-Andrew Ledbetter (3-2)  Loss-Austin Moore (2-2)  T-3:15  A-204
HR FMU - Tanner Wakefield (3).
HR UMO - Vito Patierno (3).
Weather: 84, Sunny
Deutsch faced 2 batters in the 6th.