FLORENCE, SC – Senior right-hander Danny Leo and junior righty Josh Adams combined on a four-hitter as Francis Marion University defeated 16th-ranked University of Mount Olive 3-0 on Friday (Apr. 26) evening in the final Conference Carolinas baseball series of the regular season.
 
Francis Marion will conclude the three-game series with a Senior Day doubleheader against UMO on Saturday (Apr. 27) afternoon at 1 p.m. in Florence, SC.
 
The Patriots have ensured themselves a berth in the Conference Carolinas Tournament beginning next Wednesday (May 1).  UMO drops to 33-13 overall and 19-8 in conference play.
 
Leo (1-2) was credited with his first win as he tossed 99 pitches in six innings. He totaled four strikeouts, while only allowing two hits. Adams recorded his first save of the season with three strikeouts in three scoreless frames. Trojan southpaw Erik Johnson was charged with the loss and now holds a record of 6-3.
 
Junior second baseman Owen Taylor led Francis Marion with two doubles, now listing 13 for the 2024 season. Junior designated hitter Noah Stout had two hits and drove in one of the three runs, while sophomore left fielder Caleb Oakley and junior shortstop Peyton Wilson both tallied two hits.
 
At the top of the batting order in the first inning, Oakley swung on the third pitch delivered for a base hit. Senior center fielder Zack Summerville followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Oakley into scoring position. Following a fly out, Stout laced an RBI-single into left-center for a 1-0 lead.
 
Francis Marion had more scoring opportunities in the bottom of the second inning as sophomore third baseman Peyton Starkey, junior right fielder Tanner Cannon, and sophomore catcher Hunter Looper were left stranded on base. The Patriots left a total of 10 runners on base throughout the contest compared to the Trojans' eight.
 
FMU held the slim 1-0 margin before adding two insurance runs in the second half of the eighth frame.  After a pitching change by UMO, Taylor hit his second double of the night deep down the left field line. Senior first baseman Kollin Crepeau quickly moved Taylor to third base with a sacrifice bunt. Starkey hit an RBI-single into center field to widen FMU's lead to two runs. After a groundout by Cannon, Looper singled back up the middle to plate Starkey from second base for a 3-0 lead.
 
Mount Olive was able to get one runner in scoring position in the ninth before Adams registered a fly out and a ground out to end the contest.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 3, #16 Univ. of Mount Olive 0 (Apr 26, 2024 at Florence, SC)
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Univ. of Mount Olive 000 000 000  -  0  4  0      (33-13, 19-8 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 100 000 02X  -  3 11  3      (17-28, 8-20 CC)
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Pitchers: Univ. of Mount Olive - Erik Johnson; Hayden Myrick(8) and Mike Kenney.
Francis Marion Univ. - Danny Leo; Josh Adams(7) and Hunter Looper.
Win-Danny Leo (1-2)  Save-Josh Adams (1)  Loss-Erik Johnson (6-3)  T-2:21  A-213
Weather: Sunny, 73, ESE 6 MPH