FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University Baseball Team (3-1) recorded 13 hits on its way to a non-conference win over Emory & Henry College (0-4) Friday evening. The Patriots reached double digit runs as they earned the victory by an 11-2 final score.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Francis Marion 11, Emory & Henry 2
LOCATION – Florence, South Carolina
VENUE – Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (0-4, 0-0 SAC); Francis Marion (3-1, 0-0 Carolinas)
How It Happened
Both pitchers got off to good starts as the bats were kept silent and the scoreboard showed all zeroes through the first three and a half innings of play. The Patriots struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning after they loaded the bases and Kollin Crepeau delivered an RBI single to make it 1-0. FMU broke things open in the home half of the fifth inning as they put up six runs on four hits to balloon their lead out to 7-0. The Wasps got one back in the top of the sixth. Fifth-year second baseman Noah Mazza (Plainfield, Ill.) led off with a single and moved up to second on a base knock from senior third baseman Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.). Senior outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) drew a walk to load the bases and Mazza scored on a double play to make it 7-1.
The Patriots answered back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth as they strung together four hits and capitalized on a pair of E&H errors. FMU tacked on one more in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run off the bat of Nick LaVigne to run their advantage to 11-1. Mazza led off the top of the eighth with a double and came around to score on an RBI base knock from fifth-year outfielder Tyler Bradley (Bessemer City, N.C.) to cut the deficit to 11-2. The Patriots recorded a scoreless ninth inning to take the 11-2 win.
Chas DeBruhl earned the win on the hill for the Patriots as he scattered four hits and one run while striking out four batters over six innings of work. Danny Leo earned the save after pitching three innings and giving up just one run in relief. Fifth-year pitcher Zach Clover (Cary, N.C.) took the loss for E&H after allowing six runs on seven hits over 4 ⅓ innings. Mazza and Bradley led the Wasps as they each recorded a pair of hits while Bradley recorded the lone RBI of the game.
Up Next
Emory & Henry wraps up its three-game road series against the Patriots on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Sparrow Stadium.
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