MOUNT OLIVE – J.J. Williams gave UNCP a one-run lead with a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning, but  No. 9 Francis Marion rallied for a pair of runs in the ninth, including Brooks Arnette's go-ahead sacrifice fly, to upend the seventh-ranked Braves, 5-4, in the semifinals of the NCAA Southeast Regional on Saturday evening at Scarborough Field.

The setback put an end to a record-breaking season for UNCP (44-12) whose highlights in the current campaign included a school-record win total and a Peach Belt Conference championship. The triumph marked the fifth-straight series victory for the Patriots (40-15) who will now make a regional championship game appearance despite dropping their tournament opener to Catawba on Thursday.

Senior Kenny Mickens doubled in a pair of runs to highlight a 2-for-3 night at the plate for UNCP who also got a RBI and a 2-for-4 hitting line from Eitan Maoz. Martin Gordon plated two runs on a 3-for-4 plate showing to lead the Patriots. PBC Freshman of the Year Michael Wilson walked twice and scored once on a 2-for-3 hitting line, while Tyler Boyd booked a pair of hits for the Patriots as well.

Braxton Lewis (7-1), who saw his school-record consecutive scoreless innings streak come to an end on Friday against Catawba, saddled his first loss of the season after allowing two earned runs on a hit and a pair of walks in 1-2/3 innings of relief work. Jarrott Hooks (6-1) picked up the win for Francis Marion after yielding just one hit in 2-1/3 innings of relief.

"It's been a great ride," said senior Jason Coker after the game. "Since the beginning, our goals were set at 40-plus wins, win a conference championship and make it to the postseason. We had a great year and I look forward to coming out and watching these guys play next year."

Wilson tripled and scored on an ensuing Arnette single to give Francis Marion a third-inning lead, but UNCP scored three of its own in the fourth, including two on a clutch two-out double from Mickens. The Patriots would eventually tie the score in the sixth, loading the bases with three of their first four at-bats in the frame to set the table for a two-run knock by Gordon.

"It was a good baseball game and a tough way to lose. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose - that's baseball. This one stings a little bit though," said UNCP head coach Paul O'Neil. "I couldn't be more happy or more happy with our kids – with what they accomplished this season and their attitude. This senior class is what has really done it for UNCP baseball. They have seen an awful lot of success in their career. They are the group that punched us through (to the NCAA postseason). Now, it's up to the kids that follow to continue what they started."