HARTSVILLE, SC - Senior right-hander Erik Sommerville pitched six shutout innings and sophomore outfielder Tyler Boyd rapped out three hits as eighth-ranked Francis Marion University pounded Coker College 9-4, Tuesday afternoon (April 13) in non-conference baseball action.

Francis Marion improves to 32-9 with its fourth straight win over the Cobras.  Coker falls to 23-20.

FMU will entertain Newberry College on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on Cormell Field.

Sommerville allowed only four hits over his six innings to up his season mark to 5-2.  He struck out a season-high equaling seven batters, while issuing only one walk. 

FMU righty Patrick Mincey and southpaw Shane Gebhards each pitched a scoreless inning as Francis Marion came within two outs of recording three consecutive nine-inning shutouts for the first time in the program's history.  The team's scoreless innings streak ended at a school-record 30.0 frames when Coker tallied four runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Boyd was 3-for-5 with a run scored and one driven in, while first baseman Preston Shuey and second baseman Josh Biggers each had two hits and one RBI.  Both of Shuey's hits were doubles.  Designated hitter Chris Honeycutt plated two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly.

Matt Long (10-5) was the losing pitcher for Coker as he allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings.

Francis Marion scored twice in the first frame after Barrett Kleinknecht was awarded first base on catcher's interference with two outs.  Shuey followed with an RBI double and later scored on Honeycutt's single.

The Patriots scored three times in the fourth and twice each in the seventh and ninth innings to build a 9-0 advantage.

FMU right-hander Phillip Mozingo, returning from Tommy John surgery, made his first appearance in two seasons in the bottom of the ninth.

Coker center fielder Brinley Griffin and left fielder Drew Hardee both registered two hits.