Gardner-Webb’s Dale Francis Slugs Four Home Runs in Single Game

Image credit: Dale Francis (Photo courtesy of Gardner-Webb Athletics)

Throughout his near-two-decade college coaching career, Jim Chester has always tried to put himself in the opposing coach’s shoes when analyzing the various decisions throughout a game.

The Gardner-Webb head coach doesn’t necessarily make moves based on how others handled them, but past experiences are certainly a part of his managerial calculus. Chester says the tactic is helpful in his preparation for situations he might one day encounter himself.

Saturday night against Appalachian State is technically no different. There were a host of pivotal decisions throughout the 16-14 contest, many of which Chester believed could eventually provide valuable precedent for how he might handle a game.

However, unlike most outings, Chester also believes the most critical moments of the evening might never again be replicated in his career.

“In my 19 years of coaching,” Chester told Baseball America on Saturday evening, “I’ve never seen that before and I’ll probably never see it again.”

He’s referring to his first baseman, Dale Francis, who on Saturday submitted a strong contender for single-game performance of the year with four home runs and 12 RBIs, including one on a Barry Bonds-style intentional walk with the bases loaded in the ninth inning.

A One-Man Offense

Francis left the yard in the first, fifth, sixth and seventh innings against App State and accounted for three-quarters of his team’s offensive production.

The 23-year-old senior infielder became just the 15th Division I player to hit four home runs in a game since NCAA.org started keeping track of single-contest stats in 2012, which coincidentally aligns almost perfectly with the start of the BBCOR bat era (2011). Only Florida State’s Marshall McDougal (six on May 9, 1999) and Campbell’s Henry Rochelle (five on March 30, 1985) are known to have hit more than four home runs in a college game ever.

“We would have suffered a run-rule loss tonight without Dale,” Chester said. “Think about that. Look at the score. If not for Dale, we lose by 10 runs in seven innings.”

Francis expected the intentional walks to come sooner.

“I thought it was going to be a little earlier,” Francis said, drawing a laugh from his head coach. “It was respect for sure.”

Added Chester: “If they didn’t walk him in the ninth, I bet he had a good chance to hit another one. There’s no doubt about it.”

Building Power

Though he quipped that he never could have predicted a four home-run game, Chester wasn’t shocked by Francis’ power display. He had always known that the slugger had the potential to be a force in the heart of Gardner-Webb’s batting order after a winding journey to get there.

Francis began his collegiate career at Alabama State in 2021, but struggled to find consistent playing time, appearing in only 18 games over two years. He spent his freshman season on the bench and missed much of 2022 with a season-ending injury.

It was at Erskine (S.C.) College where Francis truly found his form.

In his first season with the Flying Fleet, he dominated, leading the team in virtually every offensive category and proving he could not only contribute but excel. His 14 home runs and 51 RBIs that season were a testament to his growing confidence and ability to make an impact.

By 2024, Francis had taken his game to even greater heights.

Despite missing 22 games due to injury, he still managed to lead Erskine in home runs (15) and RBIs (53). Though he didn’t meet the minimums to qualify for national leaderboards, Francis’ .817 slugging percentage was among the best in the country last year, and his ability to perform under pressure made him one of the most feared hitters in the league.

Francis had transformed from a bench player into an undeniable force at the plate, and Chester’s belief in him soared.

“When I entered the portal, coach Chester told me I was going to get back healthy and be the man as long as you put your head down and work,” Francis told BA. “This fall and spring I worked. It’s finally clicking.”

A Standout Slugger

It’s early but Francis has validated that confidence rather emphatically. Through 12 games, he’s batting .415 with seven home runs, 26 RBIs, three doubles and a 1.380 OPS. The righthanded swinger has clubbed more extra-base hits (10) than singles (seven).

Francis says he isn’t surprised.

“If anything, I’m more like, ‘Finally I’m doing what I know I can do,'” he said.

Asked if Saturday’s performance could be a boon to his career as he aims to secure a professional opportunity later this year, Francis chose to instead focus on what he called ” the bigger picture.”

He hopes his standout raw power can help Gardner-Webb win the Big South and secure its first Division I NCAA Tournament bid after the Bulldogs went 22-31 overall and 9-15 in conference play last year.

He hopes his ability to be a force in the middle of the order helps his teammates see better pitches to hit as a byproduct.

If those things happen, Francis said, “the rest will take care of itself.” Saturday was simply a good example.

“He’s all about the program and everybody inside of it,” Chester said. “It’s a special, special night for him and a special night for Gardner-Webb baseball. But I know Dale is more worried about us winning a series tomorrow and getting us to where we need to be than he is about individual accolades. That’s why he’s great.”