FLORENCE, SC – Ninth-ranked Young Harris College defeated Francis Marion University in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader on Sunday (March 24) afternoon, taking a 3-1 victory in game one and 6-3 win in game two.
Francis Marion (13-15, 6-8) will finish the series against Young Harris on Monday (March 25) afternoon, with the first pitch being thrown out at 2 p.m. in Sparrow Stadium.
In game one, FMU junior designated hitter
Noah Stout registered two hits and homered to tally the only run scored by the Patriots. Four other Patriots recorded one hit apiece.
Young Harris (24-5, 11-3) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a sacrifice fly from first baseman Jeremy Begora scoring James Basham. The Mountain Lions extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth.
It wasn't until the bottom of the eighth inning that the Patriots answered with a run of their own. Stout clipped Young Harris' lead to just one run at 2-1 with a home run sent deep over the wall in right center.
Francis Marion continued to trail as Young Harris added one more run in the final inning, another sacrifice fly plating YHC's Basham.
FMU left-handed pitcher
Chas DeBruhl took the loss to fall to 3-3, while Mountain Lion hurler Zach Murray (5-0) picked up his fifth win and Dylan Beck claimed his sixth save of the 2024 season.
Junior shortstop
Peyton Wilson led the Patriots with two hits and two RBIs in the second game and was followed by junior first baseman
Kollin Crepeau, third baseman
Blake Falor, and junior right fielder
Tanner Cannon who all tallied one hit.
In game two the Mountain Lions jumped to an early lead, posting six runs between the second and third innings.
As Francis Marion fell behind 6-0 in the top of the third, a three-run burst started by Falor trimmed the Mountain Lions lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the frame. The third baseman led off with a single up the middle and later scored on a wild pitch. Wilson caped the inning with a two-run single through the left side.
The remainder of the game went scoreless.
Young Harris' Dylan Beck (6-0) posted his sixth win of the season while right-handed pitcher Ryan Cross picked up his second save. Junior right-handed hurler
Josh Adams (2-2) was handed his second loss.
#9 Young Harris College 3, Francis Marion Univ. 1 (Mar 24, 2024 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Young Harris College 001 010 001 - 3 4 0 (23-5, 10-3 CC)
Francis Marion Univ.. 000 000 010 - 1 6 1 (13-14, 6-7 CC)
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Pitchers: Young Harris College - Zach Murray; Dylan Beck(8) and James Basham.
Francis Marion Univ. -
Chas DeBruhl;
Connor Kirkley(6) and
Nick LaVigne.
Win-Zach Murray (5-0) Save-Dylan Beck (6) Loss-
Chas DeBruhl (3-3) T-2:18 A-213
HR FMU -
Noah Stout (5).
Weather: Sunny, 52, NE 15 MPH
#9 Young Harris College 6, Francis Marion Univ. 3 (Mar 24, 2024 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Young Harris College 015 000 0 - 6 8 0 (24-5, 11-3 CC)
Francis Marion Univ.. 003 000 0 - 3 5 0 (13-15, 6-8 CC)
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Pitchers: Young Harris College - Dylan Beck; Ryan Cross(5) and Jack Enrico.
Francis Marion Univ. -
Josh Adams;
Donavan Accerbi(4);
Keith Stevens(5);
Peyton Starkey(6) and
Hunter Looper.
Win-Dylan Beck (6-0) Save-Ryan Cross (2) Loss-
Josh Adams (2-2) T-3:00 A-129
HR YHCBSB24 - Ethan Stamps.
Weather: Sunny, 57, NE, 14 MPH
Stevens faced 1 batter in the 6th.
