WINGATE, N.C. – Despite holding a 7-4 advantage in the top of the sixth, No. 14-ranked Francis Marion University was outscored 17-2 in the final four frames to suffer a 21-9 loss to No. 16 Wingate University in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 17).

Francis Marion (21-6) will continue Conference Carolinas play this weekend with a three-game road series at Emmanuel University. Game 1 will be played on Friday, March 18, at 5 p.m. before the two sides play the doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m.

The Patriots established an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning following a solo homer to left-center courtesy of redshirt junior right fielder Charlie Bussey III, his seventh of the season.

In the second frame, Francis Marion continued to add to its lead with a two-run blast to right field from freshman designated hitter Evan Matile, his first career collegiate homer, 3-0. With two outs, Bussey III delivered once again with a two-run home run to center field, his second of the game, to increase the lead to 5-0.

The Bulldogs answered back in the bottom of the second with back-to-back solo homers to cut the deficit to 5-2. Following a pair of scoreless innings, Wingate chipped into the FMU lead with a two-run home run down the right-field line to trail by one run, 5-4.

In the top of the sixth, the Patriots capitalized on consecutive walks to begin the frame as redshirt junior catcher Zander Buchan registered an RBI double down the right-field line. Sixth-year center fielder Daniel Hussey drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to center field, as Francis Marion regained a three-run lead, 7-4.

Wingate immediately countered in the bottom half of the sixth with four runs on three hits after taking advantage of an error to begin the inning, 8-7. The Bulldogs took control of the game in the seventh after tallying eight runs on six hits to extend their lead to 16-7. 

Despite an RBI single by junior third baseman Brandon Vargas in top of the eighth, Wingate answered with five runs in the bottom half to hold a 21-8 advantage.

Senior left fielder Riley Orr belted a solo homer to left field in the ninth, his sixth of the season, for the final run of the game, 21-9.

Bussey III finished 2-for-4 with two homers, three runs batted in, two runs scored, and one walk. Matile went 2-for-4 with one home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored, while Buchan tallied two hits, one RBI, one run scored, and one walk.

Sophomore Jackson Madden took a no-decision in the start after yielding two earned runs on two hits with six strikeouts and three walks in 4.1 innings (74 pitches). Redshirt freshman Owen Powell (2-1) suffered the loss following 1.0 inning in relief.

Carson Starnes (2-0) of Wingate earned the win out of the bullpen.