WILSON, NC – Using a second-inning five-run outburst, Barton College went on to defeat Francis Marion University 15-3 on Saturday (March 16) in Conference Carolinas baseball action, despite FMU getting two hits apiece from junior shortstop Peyton Wilson and junior designated hitter Noah Stout.
 
The Patriots return to the field on Sunday to play a doubleheader against Barton starting at noon in Wilson, NC.
 
Alongside Wilson's two hits, the American Fork, Utah, native drove in one run for Francis Marion. Patriot seniors Blake Falor and Zack Summerville, and sophomore center fielder Caleb Oakley also registered one hit.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Barton (20-5, 5-5) took the early lead over FMU (13-10, 6-4) with the second-inning explosion.
 
Trailing 5-0 as they entered the top of the third inning, FMU junior catcher Nick LaVigne walked and was followed by a walk to Oakley. With runners on first and second, Wilson doubled to right center and plated LaVigne to bring the score to 5-1.
 
Both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth inning, Oakley singled to left field and advanced LaVigne to second base after he walked. With a fielder's choice grounder from Wilson and a walk to Summerville, the bases were loaded. A balk from Barton's right-handed pitcher Steven Maisers (2-0) scored LaVigne and trimmed the Bulldogs lead to 5-2.
 
FMU tallied its last run of the game in the top of the sixth inning, Barton led 6-2 after scoring in the bottom of the fifth, but Stout doubled and scored on a Bulldog error. The Bulldogs responded by scoring five runs in the seventh and four in the eighth.
 
Senior left-handed hurler Chas DeBruhl (3-2) took his second loss of the season.
 
 
Barton 15, Francis Marion 3 (Mar 16, 2024 at Wilson, N.C.)
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Francis Marion...... 001 011 000  -  3  7  1      (13-10, 6-4 CC)
Barton................... 050 010 54X  - 15 12  2      (20-5, 5-5 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Chas DeBruhl; Donavan Accerbi(5); Dylan Wiegel(6); Tyler Gall(7); Ja y Bowling(8); Malik Frails(8) and Nick LaVigne; D. Villaran Goundis. Barton - C. Patterson; S. Maiers(5); Campbell(7); W. Leonard(9) and C. Waddell.
Win-S. Maiers (3-0)  Loss-Chas DeBruhl(3-2)  T-3:14  A-122
HR BARTON - T. Halvorson (3).
Weather: 66, mostly cloudy
Bowling faced 4 batters in the 8th.