GASTONIA – The 19^th-ranked and third-seeded UNC Pembroke baseball team pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning to offset an early 2-0 deficit, but Will Hardee hit a 2-run homer in the fifth gave sixth-seeded Francis Marion the lead for good on the way to a 4-2 victory over the Braves on Saturday evening in the semifinal round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
 
The setback moves the Braves (38-14) into a Sunday elimination game against fourth-seeded and 14^th-ranked Mount Olive for the first to move into a winner-take-all championship tilt with Francis Marion (29-24). Sunday's elimination game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch, with the title bout slated to begin at approximately 4 p.m.
 

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	Francis Marion 4, UNC Pembroke 2
PITCHERS	WP: Robbie Jordan (6-3) LP: Branden Kunz (5-3) Save: None
RECORDS	UNC Pembroke 38-14; Francis Marion 29-24

KEY INNINGS
BOT 3	Will Hardee doubled Francis Marion's lead out to a pair of runs when he punched a 2-strike offering from Branden Kunz over the wall in right field.
TOP 4	The Braves loaded the bases with their first three at-bats in the fourth, and evened the score back up with a pair of run-producing at-bats. Spencer Faulkner brought Will Hood home on a groundout up the middle, while Ethan Ott came scampering home on a groundout from Trent Harris.
BOT 5	Caleb Oakley drew a 5-pitch walk to lead off the home half of the fifth inning, and Will Hardee following with a go-ahead 2-run blast that capped the scoring on the night.

UNCP LEADERS	FMU LEADERS
Trent Harris 1-4, 2B, RBI Joey Rezek 1-3, 2B Will Hood 1-4, R Ethan Ott 1-4, R	Will Hardee 4-4, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI Zack Summerville 1-4, 2B, R Naphis Llanos 1-4 Connor Kirkley 5.2 IP, 0 R, 6 K

 

UP NEXT

The Braves will face fourth-seeded and 14th-ranked Mount Olive (34-15) for the fifth time in eight days when the squads meet in an elimination game on Sunday at 1 p.m. The winner of that contest will battle sixth-seeded Francis Marion in a winner-take-all championship game at approximately 4 p.m.

 

STAY CONNECTED

Follow UNCP Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @UNCP_BSB and "Like" Brave Ball on Facebook.

 

BACK THE BRAVES

Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Baseball program by joining the Braves Club, or by making a gift directly to the program. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu. To make a monetary gift, visit UNCPBraves.com/Give and indicate "baseball team" in notes section.