TIGERVILLE, SC – Senior right-handed pitcher
Robbie Jordan tossed a 7.0-inning gem and junior
Ethan McAnally delivered a game-changing three-run homer, as No. 5 seed and 11th-ranked Francis Marion University outdueled top-seeded and second-ranked North Greenville University by a 6-4 margin on Friday night (May 15) in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Baseball Tournament.
With the win, the Patriots (44-12), advance to play North Greenville or North Georgia in a rematch on Saturday in the championship game at 6 p.m. Francis Marion needs one more win to claim the sub-regional, while its two opponents will need two wins over the Patriots to move on to Super Regionals.
Jordan (11-2), a native of Florence, S.C., earned his second win over the Trailblazers (48-11) after allowing just two earned runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts and one walk in 7.0 innings of work (121 pitches). Junior righty
Jafet Martinez Delgado registered the final out of the game via a strikeout to secure his seventh save of the year and second in the regionals.
At the plate, McAnally reached base three times after going 1-for-2 with a homer, three runs batted in, two runs scored, a walk, and one hit-by-pitch. Senior second baseman
Jimmy Koza finished 2-for-3 with one walk, while redshirt junior catcher
Zander Buchan drew four walks and scored two runs.
North Greenville jumped in front in the top of the first with a clutch two-out RBI double down the right-field line to lead by a 1-0 edge.
Following a scoreless second and third frame, the Trailblazers added to their lead with a solo homer to left field in the top of the fourth, 2-0.
The Patriots responded in the bottom half of the fourth as McAnally and senior first baseman
Riley Orr reached base with one out. The next at-bat, Koza laced a single up the middle off the pitcher, and FMU scored following a throwing error to first base to cut into the deficit, 2-1. The Patriots tied the game at 2-2 as freshman third baseman
Myles Proffitt registered an RBI single to left-center.
Francis Marion established its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth as senior left fielder
Will Dorrell produced an RBI fielder's choice with the bases loaded, 3-2.
The Trailblazers managed to load the bases with one out in the top of the sixth with a trio of singles. FMU ultimately escaped the jam with a 6-3 double play to maintain the lead.
In the seventh, Buchan reached a walk before redshirt junior right fielder
Charlie Bussey III was hit by a pitch which forced a pitching change. In the next at-bat, McAnally quickly fell behind 0-2 before launching a three-run homer to left field, his team-leading 22nd blast of the year, to take a 6-2 advantage.
The Trailblazers tallied two runs in the top of the ninth courtesy of a home run before Martinez Delgado closed the door with a strikeout to secure the win.
Bennett Roemer (7-1) of NGU suffered his first loss of the season.
