FLORENCE — Seven runs in the third and fourth innings proved to be the difference in Newberry’s 7-4 win over Francis Marion on Tuesday evening in Florence.
The Wolves (17-14) did all of their scoring in the two-inning outburst, with eight of Newberry’s 11 hits coming during the decisive span. Colin Allman’s two-run single began the scoring in the third after a walk, a bunt single, and a sacrifice put two in scoring position for the Newberry shortstop. Ben Herring followed with his first of two RBI moments later to stretch the lead to three runs.
Newberry sent nine men to the plate in the fourth inning after a bizarre 15-minute delay for the stadium lights turning off. Fortunately for the Wolves, the bats sprang immediately to life when play resumed on a first-pitch single by Chase Barbary. The Wolves would send nine men to the plate in the inning, getting run-scoring hits from Danton Hyman, Dalton Lansdowne, Herring and Tyler White to extend the advantage to 7-1.
Francis Marion (12-20) scored an unearned run in the third and plated three more in the seventh. Seven Newberry pitchers combined to limit the Patriots to seven hits.
Hunter Hill earned the win by pitching two scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits and tallying two strikeouts. Tomas Sorcia Jr. earned the start, but was ineligible for the win due to exiting the game to begin the fourth. Sorcia allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out four.
Newberry led 11-7 in the hit column, but did not record an extra-base hit in the contest. The Wolves forced Francis Marion to go to the bullpen eight times, with only one Patriots’ hurler going more than one inning.
After the Patriots trimmed the Newberry advantage to three runs, Barrett Walton worked a scoreless eighth and Charlie Fessler earned his eighth career save with a scoreless ninth to close out the win.
Derek Olenchuk was given the night off for the first time this season, ending a streak of 132 consecutive starts for the everyday left fielder. Lansdowne was moved into the second spot in the batting order rather than his usual spot in the nine hole, while Allman batted third for the first time this year.