FLORENCE, SC - Early leads proved effective on Saturday afternoon (March 6) as second-ranked Francis Marion University opened Peach Belt Conference play by splitting a doubleheader with visiting USC Aiken.  USCA scored the first eight runs in game one en route to a 10-5 win, while Francis Marion scored the first four tallies of game two before claiming a 12-3 victory.

FMU moves to 13-3 overall and 1-1 in the PBC, while USCA is 10-7 and 4-1.  The two squads will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. on Cormell Field.

Senior right-hander Erik Sommerville remained unbeaten (4-0) with 7.1 innings of work.  He allowed three runs on just three hits, while striking out seven.  Southpaw Shane Gebhards pitched the final 1.2 and allowed only one hit.

Three Patriots collected two hits and scored twice: catcher Logan Bland, designated hitter Jacob Wallace, and second baseman Josh Biggers.  Biggers also drove in two runs, as did center fielder Graham Couch.

USCA scored its three runs on a wild pitch in the fifth and RBI fielder's choice grounders in the eighth by right fielder Alex Franklin and second baseman David Vitko.  Pacer starter Clayton Knight (1-3) was tabbed with the loss, although only one of the six runs he allowed was earned.  The Pacers committed five errors in the second contest.

In the opener, USCA shortstop Stephen Carmon went 4-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.  Designated hitter Nick Aranas was 3-for-4 with a run scored and four RBIs, while catcher Gary Asbill was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in as the Pacers rapped out 17 hits.

Steven Owen (4-1) earned the win, while Tyler Stephans recorded a save.

Senior right fielder Alex Lee led FMU at the plate in game one as he singled, doubled, and homered, scored twice, and drove in two runs.  FMU left-hander starter Josh Edgin (2-2) lasted only into the fourth frame.