FLORENCE, SC - Francis Marion University scored two unearned
runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to snap a 2-2 tie and the
12th-ranked Patriots went on to claim a 4-2 win over Erskine
College, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 6) in the Patriots' 2010 home
opener.
FMU avenges a 6-3 loss at Erskine on Thursday to even its mark
at 1-1, while the Flying Fleet suffer their first loss of the
season after three victories.
Senior left-hander Jeremiah Meiners (1-0) pitched two scoreless
frames - the seventh and eighth innings-- to earn the win, while
senior righty Brandon Forshee struck out the side in the ninth to
register his first save of 2010.
Erskine starter Russell Reid (1-1) was tagged with the loss,
although the unearned runs in the seventh were his undoing.
Senior shortstop Barrett Kleinknecht was the lone Patriot with
multiple hits as he went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted
in. Three Flying Fleet hurlers limited FMU to only five hits.
First baseman John Bolding was 2-for-5 with a run scored and an
RBI for Erskine, while designated hitter Drew Willingham was
2-for-3 with an RBI.
FMU took a 1-0 lead in the second frame when Alex Lee walked,
advanced to third on a single by Preston Shuey, and continued home
when the throw from the left fielder was high. The Patriots
doubled their lead to 2-0 on an RBI-double to left center by
Kleinknecht in the fifth inning.
Erskine tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the six as Bolding
drilled a solo home run to left field and Brian Laznik then walked
and came around to score on an RBI-double by Willingham.
The decisive two runs for FMU came with one out in the seventh
inning. Catcher Logan Bland was hit by a pitch to open the
frame and after being sacrificed to second base, he scored on an
infield error on a ball hit by Martin Gordon. Gordon then
stole second base and moved to third on a single by Tyler
Boyd. Kleinknecht then accounted for the final run with a
sacrifice fly to center field.
Francis Marion will play host to Newberry College on Tuesday at
3 p.m., while Erskine entertains 27th-ranked Georgia College &
State University on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
#12 Francis Marion Univ. 4, Erskine College 2 (Feb
06, 2010 at Florence, SC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Erskine College..... 000 002
000 - 2 9 4
(3-1)
Francis Marion Univ. 010 010 20X -
4 5 0 (1-1)
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Pitchers: Erskine College - Russell Reid; Tyler Jones(7);
Andrew Guest(8).
Francis Marion Univ. - Zane Petty; Patrick Mincey(5);
Jeremiah Meiners(7); Brandon Forshee(9).
Win-Jeremiah Meiners (1-0) Save-Brandon Forshee
(1) Loss-Russell Reid (1-1) T-2:24 A-50
HR EC - John Bolding (2).
