ST. AUGUSTINE – Flagler College opened Peach Belt Conference play with a doubleheader sweep of Francis Marion University Saturday afternoon at Drysdale Field. Flagler took the opener in 10 innings, 4-3, and then won the second game, 7-5.
Flagler raised its record to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in the Peach Belt. Francis Marion fell to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
In the opener, the Saints trailed 3-2 going into the bottom of the 10
th when
Frankie Martello led off by drawing a walk.
Nikolas Dague came in to run for Martello and was sacrificed over to send by
Steven DiPuglia. A single to left field by
Ethan Crout put runner on the corners with one out. Dalton Reed ripped a pitch to left field, scoring Dague who tied the game. Two batters later,
Jimmy Peck hit a single to left-center scoring Crout from second base.
Ethan Jones (1-0) pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to pick up the win. He only allowed one hit and one run. Jones walked two and fanned two.
Robert Girgis started and lasted 6 1/3 innings. He allowed nine hits and two runs, but struck out five.
Reed finished the game with two singles and two runs batted in.
Evan Flynn (1-1) took the loss in relief for the Patriots. He tossed 3 2.3 innings and allowed four hits as well as the two runs to end the game. Sam High started and threw six-plus innings. He allowed two hits, two runs and struck out six.
Alex Griffith went 2-for-4 with a double while William Robbins singled twice. Cole Hinnant went 2-for-3 with a double and he scored a run. Brody Thomasson collected two singles and knocked in a run.
In the second game, the Saints put up four runs in the first inning, but had to hold off a Patriots rally for the win.
Sean Lawlor hit a three-run home run in the first inning to spark the Saints offense.
However, Francis Marion's Trey Chapman hit a two-run single in the sixth to close the gap to 5-4.
Martello belted a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the sixth to give Flagler some insurance.
Kyle Morton (2-1) tossed 6 1/3 innings to pick up the victory. He scattered eight hits, allowed four runs and struck out four batters.
Kyle Hansen retired two of the three batters he faced to earn his first save.
Nick Martinez saw two innings in middle relief.
Martello led the offense for Flagler going 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI. Peck went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and he drove home another run.
Isaac Rodgers tossed five-plus innings and surrendered five hits as well as six runs.
Chapman went 2-for-3 with the home run and three RBI. Henry Davis collected two singles. Griffith added two singles and he scored a run.
The same two teams meet tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the final game of the series.
