FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University dropped a Conference Carolinas' baseball doubleheader to Erskine College on Saturday (Apr. 6) afternoon, falling 5-3 in game one and 9-5 in game two.
 
Francis Marion (14-22, 6-15) will travel to Aiken on Tuesday (Apr. 9) to compete against USC Aiken at 5 p.m.
 
In game one, sophomore centerfielder Caleb Oakley, sophomore third baseman Peyton Starkey, and senior leftfielder Zack Summerville led the Patriots with two hits apiece, while two other Patriots tallied one hit.
 
Oakley began the first inning with a double down the left field line to sit in scoring position. Following a single through the left side from Starkey, Oakley made his way to third. Summerville then doubled to plate both Oakley and Starkey for a 2-0 lead.
 
With a home run sent deep over left field by the Flying Fleet's Christian Rivera, Erskine trailed 2-1 in the second inning. FMU went scoreless in the bottom of the second inning before Erskine was able to tie the contest up at 2-2 in the top of the third.
 
Both teams went scoreless for the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. The Flying Fleet pulled away in the top of the seventh and final inning, scoring three runs to take a 5-2 lead. The Patriots answered with one run in the bottom of the seventh inning as junior shortstop Peyton Wilson drove in Starkey, but FMU succumbed 5-3.
 
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Josh Adams (2-4) took the loss in relief, while Erskine's Jared Guell (4-1) posted five strikeouts and picked up his fourth win for the season.
 
In game two, Wilson paced the Patriots with three hits and Summerville drove in two of the five runs. Oakley, Summerville, junior designated hitter Noah Stout, and junior second baseman Owen Taylor all recorded two hits during the contest.
 
Much like game one, Francis Marion jumped to an early 1-0 lead as Oakley doubled down the right field line and later scored on a wild pitch.
 
It wasn't until the third inning that Erskine (19-18, 11-9) answered, tying the game at 1-1.
 
FMU widened the margin to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Singles from Oakley and Wilson put runners on as Summerville stepped into the batter's box. Swinging on the third pitch, Summerville lined a shot down the right field line for a stand-up double while scoring both Oakley and Wilson. Stout kept the game rolling with a base hit, bringing Summerville home.
 
The Flying Fleet scored their second run of game two in the top of the sixth inning, but still trailed 4-2. With two more runs scored in the top of the seventh inning, the contest was tied at 4-4 entering the bottom of the seventh.
 
As baserunners Wilson and Stout sat in scoring position, Taylor hit an infield single to score Wilson for a 5-4 lead.
 
The Flying Fleet then went on to score five unanswered runs between the eighth and ninth innings, taking the lead 9-5.
 
Freshman left-handed hurler Dylan Wiegel (1-3) was one of nine Patriot pitchers to take the mound, recording his third loss of the season. Erskine pitcher Dustin Scogins (1-0) claimed his first win as Ryan Cole tallied his first save.

 
 
Erskine College 5, Francis Marion Univ. 3 (Apr 06, 2024 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Erskine College….... 011 000 3 -  5  9  0      (18-18, 10-9 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 200 000 1 -  3  8  3      (14-21, 6-14 CC)
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Pitchers: Erskine College - Blake Holshouser; Jared Guell(4) and David Hernandez.
Francis Marion Univ. - Danny Leo; Josh Adams(5) and Hunter Looper.
Win-Jared Guell (4-1)  Loss-Josh Adams (2-4)  T-2:21  A-216
HR ECBSB24 - Christian Rivera.
Weather: Sunny, 56, NNW 8 MPH
 
 
Erskine College 9, Francis Marion Univ. 5 (Apr 06, 2024 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Erskine College........ 001 001 214  -  9 11  1      (19-18, 11-9 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 100 030 100  -  5 12  0      (14-22, 6-15 CC)
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Pitchers: Erskine College - Noah Palmese; Ira Clifton(5); Kyle Knoll(5); Cooper Guest(6); Dustin Scogins(8); Ryan Cole(9) and Logan Piedra; David Hernandez. Francis Marion Univ. - Connor Kirkley; Peyton Starkey(5); Jack Hegan(6); Hunter Herlong(8); Tyler Burgess(8); Dylan Wiegel(8); Donavan Accerbi(9); Malik Frails(9); Keith Stevens(9) and Nick LaVigne.
Win-Dustin Scogins (1-0)  Save-Ryan Cole (1)  Loss-Dylan Wiegel (1-3)  T-3:20  A-187
Weather: Sunny, 62, WNW 10 MPH
Burgess faced 2 batters in the 8th.
Wiegel faced 1 batter in the 9th.
Frails faced 1 batter in the 9th.