Claflin Baseball Falls to Francis Marion in Season-Opener

Florence, S.C. (Claflin) – Francis Marion University (FMU) baseball team used a four-run seventh inning to rally from a 4-3 deficit en route to defeating Claflin University, 7-4, Friday in the Carolinas Hospital System Classic at Sparrow Stadium.

The contest was the season-opener for both teams.

Claflin will continue play in the two-day classic Saturday (Feb. 4), facing North Greenville University at 11 a.m. and Wingate University at 5 p.m.

The Panthers put up three runs in the fifth inning to wipe out a 3-1 FMU.

Johnathan Parnell, II started rally with a one-out single off the right field wall.  Parnell later moved into scoring position with a stolen to second base. After Reginald Rogers walked, Rashad Bivens drove home Parnell with a run-scoring single, cutting the Patriots lead to 3-2.

Claflin then loaded the bases on a walk by Rashad Webster.  After Christopher Gilliam struck out to leave the bases loaded with two down, Lyndale Morley delivered a two-run single to bring home Rogers and Bivens to give the Panthers the 4-3 lead.

Claflin held the lead for 1-1/2 innings until Reese Cooley belted a grand slam off Chazz Walker in the seventh. Reese, who homered twice on the day, drove in six of FMU seven runs.

Garrett Wilson held the Panthers at bay over the final three innings to earn the win.
Walker took the loss for Claflin, giving up four runs on two hits in two innings of work.

Eric Dubose, the Panther starter, pitched five innings and allowed three runs on four hits.

Dillon Parker pitched a scoreless eighth inning for Claflin.

Bivens and Morley led Claflin with two hits and 2 RBIs, while Parnell added three hits.

Claflin out-hit Francis Marion 9-6 in the game, but left eight runners on base and committed just one error.