FLORENCE, S.C. – The UNC Pembroke baseball team battled back from an early 4-1 deficit to take a lead in the top of the eighth inning, but Francis Marion rallied for three runs with two outs in the bottom of the frame to steal the series opener, 8-6, on Friday evening at Sparrow Stadium.
Drew Beaver doubled and scored twice to highlight a perfect 4-for-4 night at the plate for the Braves (23-13, 9-10 PBC) who have now dropped four-straight league games. Nick Debo (2-for-2) and Nick Salisbury (2-for-4) both registered multi-hit performances as well, while Stibel Aleman Saba walked twice and scored three times on a 1-for-3 hitting line.
Leadoff hitter Brooks Kennedy hit a pair of doubles and crossed the plate three times on a 3-for-4 showing for the Patriots (21-16, 9-10) who stranded 12 runners on the base paths, including six in scoring position. J.D. Crowe walked twice and drove in a pair of runs on a perfect 3-for-3 night for the hosts as well.
Hank Simpson (0-1) picked up the first decision of his collegiate career, but was tagged with the loss after surrendering three earned runs on two hits and a pair of walks in a short eighth-inning relief appearance. John McGinty (2-1) cleaned up a blown save by Brandon Cook by striking out two and allowing just one hit in 1-2/3 innings of relief for Francis Marion.
UNCP drew first blood on Debo's two-out RBI single through the left side in the top of the first, but the Patriots tacked up a pair of runs in each of the first and second innings to take command early. The Braves cut into their deficit with lone runs in the fourth and sixth innings to climb within a lone score.
Crowe's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth gave the Patriots an 8-6 advantage, but Beaver's RBI single in the eighth brought the Black & Gold within a single run again, and Christian Snider's two-run double two batters later gave the visitors their first lead of the night.
Simpson retired the first two Patriots in the bottom of the eighth, but Francis Marion drew consecutive walks, and then loaded the bases on an ill-timed hit by pitch moments later. South Carolina transfer Logan Koch (1-for-5) hit a two-run single with the next at-bat gave the hosts the lead for good.
UNCP will continue its weekend series with the Patriots on Saturday at Sparrow Stadium with a 3 p.m. matinee. Junior Alex Britt (4-1, 2.96 ERA) is slated to get his third start of the season for the Braves. Francis Marion will likely counter with southpaw Matt Kelley (4-4, 3.88) or right-hander Brandon Cook (4-2, 3.07).
