FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University used a five-run second inning to sprint past No. 24 (
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30) Flagler College to a 10-6 victory in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Saturday afternoon at Sparrow Field.
Francis Marion improved to 21-9 overall and 5-6 in the Peach Belt. Flagler fell to 20-11 overall and 8-3 in conference play.
With the score tied at 2-all, Zach Callahan led off the bottom of the second inning by reaching on catcher's interference. He was bunted over to second base and scored on Trey Chapman's single up the middle. Later, Reese Cooley's single drove in a run, and another scored on an error on the play. William Robbins followed with a two-run double and the Patriots held a 7-2 lead.
Austin Hawley (4-2) earned the win in relief for the Patriots. He replaced the starter, Garrett Wilson, who tossed three-plus innings. Hawley tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, scattered four hits, walked one and struck out three. Christian Umphlett earned his first save of the season as he entered the game in the ninth with two runners on and two outs. He struck out
Igor Baez to end the game.
Five different Patriots had multiple hits as the team pounded out 13 hits. Robbins went 2-for-3 with a double and three runs batted in while Chapman went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two more knocked in.
Nick Martinez (1-2) took the loss in relief for the Saints. He tossed 2 1/3 innings after coming on in the first for the starter,
Dustin Dye. Martinez allowed six hits and four earned runs.
MacLain Larson and
Dante Pagano finished up.
Ja'Kobi Dasher belted a grand slam to get Flagler to within three, 9-6, in the fourth inning.
Jake Hathaway single twice, including a two-run base hit in the first inning.
Jason Moore and Baez also hit two singles apiece.
Flagler made six errors in the field in the game, its most since March 25, 2013 against the University of North Carolina Pembroke (also six).
The two teams will meet in the rubber game of the series tomorrow (March 26) at 1 p.m.
