FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University used strong starting pitching to deliver a 3-0 (game one) and 5-1 (game two) sweep of 17th-ranked Seton Hill University, Saturday (Feb. 17) afternoon in college baseball action.
 
The Patriots, now 6-2, will conclude the three-game series with Seton Hill on Sunday at 1 p.m.  It was the Griffins' season opening games.  FMU now owns four wins over nationally ranked opponents this season, and has won all three of its series.
 
Junior shortstop Peyton Wilson, senior outfielder Zack Summerville, and senior third baseman Blake Falor led Francis Marion as they tallied two hits apiece in the opener. Junior second baseman Owen Taylor and junior outfielder Tanner Cannon both registered one hit as the Patriots outhit the Griffins 8-6.
 
Both teams went scoreless for the first five innings. In bottom of the sixth with one out, Falor singled to right field.  After advancing to second on a passed ball, Falor scored on an RBI-single through the left side by Wilson to put FMU up 1-0.
 
Falor then drove home Cannon for a two-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning with an infield single. The third run of the game didn't come until the bottom of the eighth inning as Owen Taylor laid down a squeeze bunt to plate Wilson.
 
Patriot senior left-hander Chas DeBruhl checked off his second win of the 2024 season as he threw six scoreless innings. He allowed only six hits and recorded six strikeouts with no walks.
 
After two scoreless and hitless frames from senior righty Connor Kirkley, graduate student Jack Hegan earned his first career save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
 
Luke Deschenes of Seton Hill recorded the first loss.
 
In game two, Summerville, Taylor, junior first baseman Kollin Crepeau, and junior catcher Hunter Looper accounted for the four FMU hits. Taylor drove in two runs to lead the Patriots.
 
Francis Marion jumped out quick in the bottom of the first inning as senior center fielder Caleb Oakley crossed home plate on a two-out single through the left side by Taylor.
 
Seton Hill scored its only run of the day in inning two on a two-out double by Aiden Shephard to score Owen Henne.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, the Patriots scored three unanswered runs to expand the margin to 4-1. Summerville registered an RBI-single, Oakley scored on a wild pitch, and Taylor hit a sacrifice fly.
 
Francis Marion tallied its last run of the evening in the sixth inning (of the seventh inning game) as Taylor scored in the midst of a double play by Seton Hill.
 
Junior right-handed hurler Josh Adams (1-0) claimed the win for FMU as he threw five innings with only one run on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.  Junior righty Braxton Elms IV earned his first save by retiring the final six batters, four by way of strikeout.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 3, #17 Seton Hill Univ. 0 (Feb 17, 2024 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Seton Hill Univ…..... 000 000 000  -  0  6  0      (0-1)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 001 11X  -  3  8  0      (5-2)
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Pitchers: Seton Hill Univ. - Aidan Layton; Luke Deschenes(6); Jack Laird(8) and Braden Durham.  Francis Marion Univ. - Chas DeBruhl; Connor Kirkley(7); Jack Hegan(9) and Nick LaVigne.
Win-Chas DeBruhl (2-0)  Save-Jack Hegan (1)  Loss-Luke Deschenes (0-1)  T-2:02  A-193
Weather: Sunny,56,N12 mph
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 5, #17 Seton Hill Univ. 1 (Feb 17, 2024 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Seton Hill Univ.......... 010 000 0 -  1  5  1      (0-2)
Francis Marion Univ. 103 001 X -  5  4  0      (6-2)
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Pitchers: Seton Hill Univ. - Andino Vecchiolla; Derek Fravel(3); Zach Herb(6) and
Cameron Colwell. Francis Marion Univ. - Josh Adams; Braxton Elms IV(6) and Hunter Looper.
Win-Josh Adams (1-0)  Save-Braxton Elms IV (1)  Loss-Andino Vecchiolla (0-1)  T-1:45
Weather: Sunny,57,NNW7 mph