GREENWOOD----Danny Morgan's three-run home run highlighted an eight-run, fourth inning Friday afternoon to lead the Lander baseball team to a season-ending 10-4 upset over No. 19 Francis Marion in the second game of a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Legion Field. FMU won the first game, 7-1. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Lander finishes the year 20-34 overall and 9-21 in the PBC, while the Patriots improve to 35-16, 18-12.
Trailing 3-2, Eric Barrett singled to third to lead off, advanced to third on Jared Altus' single, then scored on T.J. Guinan's RBI double. Jonathan Myers then drove in two runs with a single. Myers advanced to second on Brendan O'Connor's single to left field, then to third on a Jesse Barbaro single. With bases loaded, Malcolm McLeod plated two runs with an RBI single to center field. Morgan's homer made it 10-3.
Daniel Hinchberger (8-5) earned the victory as he struck out six, walked three and allowed four earned runs in the complete seven innings. FMU's Cole McKellar (7-4) took the loss as he walked one and allowed five runs on five hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
Francis Marion took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Taylor Norfleet scored from third on a wild pitch with bases loaded.
Lander regained the lead at 2-1 in the second inning. Gabe McCann doubled, reached third on a fielding error, then scored on Guinan's double down the left field line. Altus scored the second run of the inning on a passed ball.
The Patriots took the lead back at 3-2 in the third inning. Greg Phelps singled, advanced to second on Justin Greene's bunt single. Phelps and Greene advanced on Jared Barkdoll's sacrifice bunt. FMU then took the lead on back-to-back RBI singles by Michael Ward and Norfleet.
FMU cut the margin to 10-4 in the sixth when Eric Armstrong, pinch-hitting for Ryan Hypke, doubled to right center, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Derek Kennamer's single to left field.
For Lander, Morgan went 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI; McCann went 2-for-4 with one triple, one double and one run scored; Guinan went 3-for-3 with two doubles, one run and two RBI; and Jonathan Myers went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI.
For FMU, Armstrong (1-for-2) and Barkdoll (1-for-3) both doubled, while Ward went 2-for-3.
In the first game, FMU's Dylan Owen (9-1) earned the win as he struck out five, walked one and allowed one run on six hits in six innings pitched. Lander's Evan Christian (4-4) took the loss as he struck out four, walked two and allowed four runs on 13 hits in eight innings of work.
Francis Marion took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Nick Stewart doubled to center field, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on Hypke's RBI single to right field.
Lander tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning when McCann doubled to right center, then scored on Altus' RBI single to center field.
FMU scored two runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Barkdoll singled to left field, advanced to second on Ward's single to left and to third on Stewart's sacrifice bunt. Barkdoll scored on Norfleet's sacrifice fly and Ward scored on Hypke's RBI single. The Patriots extended their lead to 4-1 in the eighth when Hypke singled to left field, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on Phelps' RBI single.
The Patriots scored their final three runs in the ninth. Barkdoll tripled to right center and scored on Stewart's RBI single to right field, Ward scored on Ryan Hewitt's sacrifice fly and Stewart crossed the plate on Kennamer's RBI single to right.
For Lander, McCann went 1-for-4 with one double and one run scored and Jonathan Myers went 3-for-4.
For FMU, Stewart went 4-for-4 with one triple, two doubles, two runs scored and one RBI; Barkdoll went 2-for-4 with one triple and two runs; Phelps went 3-for-5 with one double; and Hypke went 3-for-5 with one run and two RBI.
