Francis Marion got a 103-pitch performance from junior starter Spencer Jordan but ended up dropping a 7-2 decision to the Young Harris College Mountain Lions in the first day of the Auddie Brown Baseball Classic in Florence.
The classic will continue on Saturday with Young Harris playing King College at noon and FMU will again play Young Harris at 3 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students.
Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday will be Darlington native and current San Diego Padres second baseman Orlando Hudson. Hudson will also sign autographs during the opening innings of Saturday’s 3 p.m. contest.
Jordan worked 7 1/3 innings for FMU (2-2) scattering five hits and striking out 10, but a throwing error on a potential double-play ball extended the eighth inning.
A David Atwood RBI single to left-center plated what would be the deciding run and chased Jordan. Young Harris (2-3) tacked on some insurance as senior Jarrott Hooks allowed four runs, including a Trey Rogers two-run home run just over the left-field wall.
The Patriots took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when junior Tyler Hibbs hooked a triple into the left-field corner past a diving Atwood.
Young Harris knotted the game 2-2 in the top of the fifth on Dom Wyshinski’s two-run double to the gap in left.
FMU had a chance to break the tie in the bottom of the seventh, but senior Buddy Sosnoskie was caught looking on strikes with runners on first and third. The Patriots stranded seven runners on the afternoon.
Junior designated hitter Will Chandler was the only Patriot with a multi-hit day, finishing 2-for-4 with two singles and a run scored. Senior righty Dyson Coker worked the ninth inning for FMU, sitting the Mountain Lions down in order.
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