Florence, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Francis Marion Patriots in a 13-7 final score on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors had 14 hits in the loss to the Patriots. Julio Justo led the team with three hits including a double. Justo went on to lead with three RBIs while Timo Schau led the team with two of the seven runs. Jarred Jones had two of the three walks. Ty King Richards and Schau both had stolen bases, while Devin Patrick recorded a sacrifice fly. Tanner Glass started the game for the Warriors and went 2.2 innings while striking out three. Jackson Fischer and Bryson Fowler came in to pitch in relief striking out a combined five batters.
Final: Francis Marion 13, Southern Wesleyan 7
Record: Southern Wesleyan (0-3) Francis Marion (2-0)
How It Happened
The Patriots struck first as Jackson and Hinnant came around to score to take a 2-0 lead over Southern Wesleyan. Southern Wesleyan countered in the top of the third inning. Ty King Richards led off with a single to center and then advanced to second on a stolen base. Timo Schau walked to put runners at first and second and bring Tanner Glass up to bat. With one out, Glass singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw to bring Richards in. Julio Justo doubled to left center to bring both Glass and Schau in and put the Warriors on top 3-2.
Francis Marion countered in the bottom of the third inning as they brought six runs across the plate to take an 8-3 run advantage over Southern Wesleyan. They extended their lead to 10-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Southern Wesleyan fought back in the top of the fifth. Jackson Fischer led off with a single through the left side and then advanced to second on a single from Julio Justo. Conner Ewing singled to third base. Justo advanced to second and then moved on to third on a throwing error by the third baseman that allowed Fischer to come in to score. Devin Patrick followed with a sacrifice flyout that brought Justo across the plate and put the Warriors down 5-10.
The Warriors kicked off the top of the fifth inning with a single by Timo Schau. Schau advanced to second as Quinton Bent singled through the left side. With runners at first and second, Jackson Fischer singled up the middle to bring Schau home. Julio Justo grounded out, but Bent came in to score on the play to make the score 7-10.
Francis Marion lengthened their lead to 13-7 in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game.
Southern Wesleyan will next travel to Jacksonville, FL to take on the Trinity Baptist Eagles on February 8-9. The Warriors will then come home to host their first game of the season against the Mars Hill Lions on February 13. They will remain at Dr. C Keith Connor Field on February 15 and 16 as they host University of Virginia – Wise.