FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University junior shortstop Peyton Wilson singled home junior catcher Zack LaVigne in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game, but fifth-ranked UNC Pembroke won 2-1 in 10 innings on Sunday (Feb. 25) to salvage the final game of the series.
 
Francis Marion (9-4) returns to the field on Wednesday (Feb. 28), hosting USC Aiken at 3 p.m.
 
Junior outfielder Tanner Cannon, senior outfielder Zack Summerville, Wilson, and LaVigne were the only Patriots to register a hit as the Braves outhit FMU 6-4.
 
The first five innings went scoreless for both teams, until UNC Pembroke broke the deadlock in the top of sixth. After a hit by pitch from junior right-hander Donavan Accerbi, UNCP's Morgan Padgett took first base. A wild pitch and single into leftfield from Spencer Faulkner advanced Padgett to third base. Third baseman Will Hood then plated Padgett with another single for a 1-0 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Francis Marion had the opportunity to tie the game as junior centerfielder Caleb Oakley reached on a dropped pop up. LaVigne replaced Oakley on base with a fielder's choice grounder, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch.  With two outs, Wilson then singled down the left-field line to bring LaVigne home, tying the game at 1-1.
 
A scoreless ninth inning sent the second straight game in the series to extra innings. The Braves tallied the winning run in the top of the tenth inning with Padgett hitting a home run to left-center.
 
UNCP right-handed pitcher Rhett Burley (1-0) took his first win of the season, while FMU junior righty Braxton Elms IV (0-1) recorded his first loss.
 
FMU starter Brennan Murphy tossed five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits with a pair of strikeouts.
 
 
#5 UNC Pembroke 2, Francis Marion Univ. 1 (Feb 25, 2024 at Florence, SC)
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UNC Pembroke........ 000 001 000 1 -  2  6  1      (12-2, 1-2)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 000 010 0 -  1  4  1      (9-4, 2-1)
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Pitchers: UNC Pembroke - Jonathan Jacobs; Kasen McCawley(6); Rhett Burley(8); Jacob Smith(10)
and Jake Bradley. Francis Marion Univ. - Brennan Murphy; Donavan Accerbi(6);
Braxton Elms IV(9); Jack Hegan(10) and Nick LaVigne.
Win-Rhett Burley (1-0)  Save-Jacob Smith (1)  Loss-Braxton Elms IV (0-1)  T-3:05  A-125
HR UNCP - Morgan Padgett (1).
Weather: Sunny,57,N4 MPH
Accerbi faced 1 batter in the 9th.