FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University rallied to within two runs and had two runners in scoring position in the ninth inning, but the Patriots fell to the College of Saint Rose 8-6, Tuesday night (March 5) in non-conference baseball action.
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Francis Marion drops to 10-8, while Saint Rose improves to 4-5. The two squads will meet again on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in FMU's Sparrow Stadium.
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Junior right fielder
Tanner Cannon led the Patriots at the plate with three hits and an RBI, while junior second baseman
Owen Taylor had two hits and a run driven in.
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The Golden Knights built an 8-3 advantage by the middle of the fifth inning. Four of those runs came off FMU senior right-handed starter
Danny Leo (0-1).
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After the fifth, FMU sophomore righty
Tyson Hall tossed three scoreless innings and junior southpaw
Malik Frails retired the Golden Knights in order in the ninth.
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The Patriots scored single runs in six different innings, but left 16 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth innings.
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Saint Rose starter Vince Venditti (1-0) earned the win with five innings of work, while Nathan Toms recorded the final three outs – including stranding the tying runs in scoring position – to register his first save of 2024.
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In the ninth, the Patriots loaded the bases with no outs, but a strike out, an RBI ground out by senior left fielder
Zack Summerville, and another strike out ended the contest.
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Saint Rose outhit the Patriots 11-10.
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Coll. of Saint Rose 8, Francis Marion Univ. 6 (Mar 05, 2024 at Florence, SC)
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Coll. of Saint Rose… 022 130 000 - 8 11 0     (4-5)
Francis Marion Univ. 011 110 101Â -Â 6 10Â 3Â Â Â Â Â (10-8)
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Pitchers: Coll. of Saint Rose – Vince Venditti; Avery Mosseau(6); Marcus Botelho(8);
Nathan Toms(9) and AJ Fasolino. Francis Marion Univ. -
Danny Leo;
Connor Kirkley(3);
Braxton Elms IV(5);
Tyson Hall(6);
Malik Frails(9) and
Hunter Looper;
Nick LaVigne.
Win-Vince Venditti (1-0)Â Save-Nathan Toms (1)Â Loss-
Danny Leo (0-1)Â T-3:03Â A-97
Weather: Hazy,74,Wind N @ 5 mph
Marcus Botelho faced 2 batters in the 9th.
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