FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University erased an early eight-run deficit by scoring nine runs after two were out in the second inning and the Patriots went on to beat Emory & Henry College 16-9 on Saturday (Feb. 10) to earn a split of the day's doubleheader and to win the weekend series. The Wasps won the opening game on Saturday 5-3 in extra innings.
Francis Marion (4-2) will play at USC Beaufort on Tuesday at 3 p.m., before returning home to entertain Seton Hill College for a three-game series next weekend.
After a wild two innings to open the second game that saw the Patriots lead 9-8, FMU junior right-handed relief pitcher
Donavan Accerbi (1-0) came in and tossed five hitless innings to earn the win. His performance allowed FMU to score insurance runs that saw the Patriots cross home in every inning but the first.
Sophomore center fielder
Caleb Oakley, senior left fielder
Zack Summerville, junior designated hitter
Noah Stout, junior first baseman
Kollin Crepeau, junior second baseman
Owen Taylor, and senior third baseman
Blake Falor all rapped out two hits, with Oakley Stout, and Crepeau driving in three runs apiece.
After falling behind 8-0, Francis Marion sent 15 batters to the plate in the last of the second and scored nine times on nine hits. Two-run singles by junior shortstop
Peyton Wilson and Crepeau highlighted the outburst.
In Saturday's first contest, which was scheduled for only seven innings, Emory & Henry catcher Nick Morris lined a two-run single back up the middle in the ninth inning to provide for the 5-3 win.
Summerville led FMU at the plate with two hits and two RBIs. Senior righty
Brennan Murphy (1-2), the fourth of six Patriot hurlers, was tagged with the loss.
Francis Marion knotted the score at 1-1 in the third inning when Summerville singled home Falor. A second run-scoring single by Summerville put FMU on top 2-1 in the sixth. After the Wasps scored twice in the top of the seventh to go up 3-2, Taylor forced extra innings with a one-out solo homer to left in the bottom of the frame.
Emory & Henry junior relief pitcher Zach McRae (1-0) earned the game-one win with two innings of scoreless work.
Emory & Henry 5, Francis Marion Univ. 3 (Feb 10, 2024 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Emory & Henry........ 010 000 202 - 5 9 1 (1-4)
Francis Marion Univ. 001 001 100 - 3 6 2 (3-2)
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Pitchers: Emory & Henry - Bryson Wagner; Nickolas Kalaflut(6); Zack McRae(8) and Nick Morris.
Francis Marion Univ. -
Josh Adams;
Connor Kirkley(6);
Tyson Hall(7);
Brennan Murphy(8);
Parker Henderson(9);
Jack Hegan(9) and
Nick LaVigne.
Win-Zack McRae (1-0) Loss-
Brennan Murphy (1-2) T-2:35 A-228
HR FMU -
Owen Taylor (1).
Weather: Sunny,70,SW 12 MPH
Murphy faced 2 batters in the 9th; P.Henderson faced 1 batter in the 9th.
Francis Marion Univ. 16, Emory & Henry 9 (Feb 10, 2024 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Emory & Henry........ 170 100 0 - 9 6 3 (1-5)
Francis Marion Univ. 091 222 X - 16 15 2 (4-2)
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Pitchers: Emory & Henry - Hunter Kirkpatrick; Drew Lanzo(2); Jacob Winstead(4);
C.J. Lincoln(4); Luke Kennedy(5); Jacob Iverson(5); Justin Day(6) and Garrison Bullock.
Francis Marion Univ. -
Tyler Gall;
Dylan Wiegel(2);
Donavan Accerbi(3) and
Hunter Looper.
Win-
Donavan Accerbi (1-0) Loss-Drew Lanzo (0-1) T-2:20
HR E&H - Jermie Greene, Jr. (1).
Weather: Mostly Cloudy,71,SW 9 MPH
