GREENWOOD – Fourteenth-ranked Francis Marion survived a seven-run Lander ninth-inning rally in the first game and came from behind in Game 2, sweeping the Bearcats 10-9 and 11-7 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball double-header Saturday at Legion Field. (Game 1 boxscore | Game 2 boxscore)
The Patriots completed the three-game series sweep, improving to 28-8 overall and 17-5 in the Peach Belt. Lander fell to 19-14, 4-11.
Francis Marion was cruising in Game 1, leading 10-2 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. But the Bearcats scored seven times and had the tying and winning runs in scoring position before the Patriots finally closed the game out. In the second game, Bud Lanier hit a grand slam to help Lander build a 7-4 lead before Francis Marion stormed back to tie on Trent Knight's three-run homer in the seventh and then adding three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth.
The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Game 1 when Jordan Owens doubled to right center and scored on Pete Hernandez's single to center.
Francis Marion jumped ahead with four runs in the second, including Chris Honeycutt's RBI double and Tyler Boyd's two-run single.
Lander pulled within 4-2 in the bottom of the third when Owens tripled into the right-field corner, scoring Robert Skinner.
The Patriots regained their three-run advantage with a run in the top of the fourth when Josh Smith singled and scored on a three-base throwing error, making it 5-2.
Francis Marion seemingly broke the game open in the sixth on Boyd's three-run homer and Honeycutt's two-run double, making it 10-2. Boyd's homer gave him five RBI on the day.
But Lander rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the ninth against relievers Jarrott Hooks, Biggers and Brandon Forshee. Devin Ridlehoover started the rally with a one-out single, Ryan McNulty reached on an error, and Brooks Reames singled to load the bases. Michael Vesnesky hit a two-run single, Aaron Fludd reached on an error to score a run, Lanier was hit by a pitch, and Skinner hit a two-run single to pull the Bearcats within 10-7.
Owens was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Forshee entered the game to try to close the door. Hernandez hit an RBI ground out for the inning's second out, and Ridlehoover was intentionally walked to load the bases. McNulty was hit by a 2-2 pitch, forcing in a run to make it 10-9. But Forshee struck Reames out swinging on a 2-2 pitch to end the game, recording his 10th save of the season.
Don Sandifer (4-0) was the winning pitcher for the Patriots, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six and walking one in seven innings of work.
Darren Tew (4-5) took the loss for Lander. Ben Runyon and Brantley Blalock each pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the Bearcats.
Leading hitters for the Patriots were Boyd, 2-for-3 with a double, homer and five RBI; Honeycutt, 2-for-2 with three RBI; Smith, 2-for-5 with two runs; and Cappelmann, 2-for-5.
Owens was Lander's leading hitter in Game 1, going 2-for-4, while Skinner, Hernandez and Vesnesky had two RBI apiece.
The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of Game 2 when Cappelmann drew a leadoff walk and scored on Kleinknecht's sacrifice fly. Francis Marion added two runs in the second when Smith hit an RBI single and Biggers drove in a run with a ground out, making it 3-0.
Lander knocked out Patriots starting pitcher Jeremiah Meineers with six runs in the second. Hernandez singled, Ridlehoover reached on a bunt single, and McNulty walked to load the bases. Vesnesky hit an RBI single, Fludd was hit by a pitch to force home a run and Lanier hit a grand slam over the left-field fence off reliever Patrick Mincey to give the Bearcats a 6-3 lead. It was Lanier's third homer of the season.
Francis Marion pulled within 6-4 in the top of the third when Boyd singled, moved to third on Kleinknecht's single, and scored on Preston Shuey's sacrifice fly to center.
Lander center fielder Lanier saved at least one run in the top of the sixth when, with two outs and a runner on second, he made a diving catch of Cappelmann's sinking line drive near the fence in left-center.
The Bearcats added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth when Vesnesky reached on an error, moved to third on a double by Reames, and scored on Fludd's sacrifice fly to center.
But Francis Marion tied the game at 7-all in the top of the seventh off reliever Brandon Farquhar on Knight's three-run homer over the fence in dead center near the 400-foot mark.
The Patriots took the lead for good in the top of the eighth when Biggers walked, Cappelmann singled, and both runners scored when Boyd bunted and reached on a three-base throwing error. Boyd would score on a wild pitch, making it 10-7.
Smith singled home a run in the top of the ninth, giving Francis Marion an 11-7 advantage.
Drew Elliott, making his first start of the season for Lander, pitched six solid innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out four and walking two. But the bullpen couldn't hold the lead.
Kleinknecht, who moved from shortstop to the mound in the seventh, got the win for the Patriots with three shutout innings to improve to 3-0 on the season. Casey Pippin (1-1) took the loss for the Bearcats.
Leading hitters for Francis Marion in Game 2 were Knight, 2-for-4, with a homer and three RBI; Smith, 2-for-4 with two RBI; Boyd, 2-for-4 with three runs; and Kleinknecht, 2-for-3.
Leading Lander in the second game were Skinner, Hernandez and Venesky with two hits apiece, Lanier who was 1-for-5 with a grand slam, and Fludd who was 0-for-2 with two RBI.
There were 15 hit batsmen in the two games.
