FLORENCE, S.C. | Francis Marion University scored four runs over the final three innings, including the winning run in the ninth, as the Patriots rallied for a 5-4 Peach Belt Conference baseball victory over Young Harris College Friday (March 16) evening at Sparrow Stadium.

The Patriots improved to 10-15 overall and to 4-9 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions fell to 11-12 and 6-7. The two teams play the middle game of their weekend series at 2 p.m. Saturday (March 17).

With the score tied at 4 entering the bottom of the ninth, Tee DuBose started the winning rally with a double down the right field line off YHC reliever Jake Tomelevage (2-1) . Nicky Winterstein reached on fielding error on a sacrifice bunt that moved Austin Fox, who pinch ran for DuBose, to third. Gage Taylor then singled up the middle with one out to score Fox.

Francis Marion had tied the game at 4 with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Steven Cox had a RBI ground out and C.J. Mackinson added a run-scoring single up the middle.

Young Harris took advantage of an FMU error to score two unearned runs in the second inning, including a RBI single to center field from Logan Worley. After Francis Marion got a run back in the third, the Mountain Lions added two more runs in the fifth to open up a 4-1 lead. Skylor Murphy led off the inning with a walk, Worley added a double down the left field line and Royce Woolfolk was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jackson Jones drove in Murphy with a ground out and Worley scored a dropped fly by a Patriot infielder.

Christian Umphlett (3-2) earned the win in relief with a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts. Young Harris starter Michael Livingston, who was named the NCBWA Division II Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week, struck out nine in 7.1 innings.

Worley had two hits to lead the YHC offensive attack. Cory Ewald added a double for the Mountain Lions.