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Baseball

Shuey and good pitching lift #21 Patriots to 3-2 win

Box Score

FLORENCE, SC - Sophomore first baseman Preston Shuey lined a two-run single to left field in the bottom of the third inning and four Francis Marion University pitchers turned that hit into a game-winner as the 21st-ranked Patriots edged USC Aiken 3-2, Sunday afternoon (March 8) in the third and deciding game of the weekend's Peach Belt Conference baseball series.

Francis Marion (15-7-1) has opened conference play with three straight series wins and stands in second place at 6-3.  USCA falls to 9-11 and 1-5.

Shuey's hit gave FMU a 3-2 lead.  FMU junior southpaw Jeremiah Meiners (3-0) and relievers Brandon Forshee, Shane Gebhards, and Barrett Kleinknecht then blanked the Pacers through the remaining six frames.  Gebhards stranded Pacer runners on first and third in the eighth inning and then Kleinknecht pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save of the year.

Shuey and senior third baseman Keon Graves were both 2-for-4 on Sunday, while leadoff man Colby Green was 2-for-5.

USCA designated hitter Travis Howard and left fielder Jamie Benjamin rapped out three hits apiece.

Center fielder Alex Lee gave FMU a 1-0 lead in the second inning when he walked with the bases loaded.  USCA claimed a 2-1 advantage by scoring twice with two outs in the top of the third.  Alex Franklin doubled home Cody McMorris, and Ken Raborn stroked an RBI-single to left to score Franklin.

Utilizing a single, an infield error, and a walk, Francis Marion loaded the bases in the bottom of third setting the stage for Shuey's deciding hit.

USCA junior righty Clayton Knight (1-2) was stuck with the loss.  Right-hander Beau Hill tossed 5.2 scoreless inning of relief.

Francis Marion will play a road doubleheader against the defending NCAA Division II national champion Mount Olive College on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Alex Lee

#16 Alex Lee

OF
6' 1"
Junior
Barrett Kleinknecht

#10 Barrett Kleinknecht

INF-P
6' 0"
Junior
Brandon Forshee

#19 Brandon Forshee

RHP
6' 1"
Junior
Colby Green

#1 Colby Green

INF
5' 8"
Junior
Jeremiah Meiners

#26 Jeremiah Meiners

LHP
5' 11"
Junior
Keon Graves

#9 Keon Graves

INF
6' 3"
Senior
Preston Shuey

#47 Preston Shuey

INF
6' 5"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Alex Lee

#16 Alex Lee

6' 1"
Junior
OF
Barrett Kleinknecht

#10 Barrett Kleinknecht

6' 0"
Junior
INF-P
Brandon Forshee

#19 Brandon Forshee

6' 1"
Junior
RHP
Colby Green

#1 Colby Green

5' 8"
Junior
INF
Jeremiah Meiners

#26 Jeremiah Meiners

5' 11"
Junior
LHP
Keon Graves

#9 Keon Graves

6' 3"
Senior
INF
Preston Shuey

#47 Preston Shuey

6' 5"
Sophomore
INF