FLORENCE, SC – Freshman right-hander Jeffrey Stoner came within one out of a three-hit shutout and 20th-ranked Francis Marion University used a pair of safety squeezes to rally past Pfeiffer University 6-3, Tuesday afternoon (March 14) in non-conference college baseball action.

Francis Marion (17-8) rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the top of the first inning to win for the 17th time in 25 decisions.  Pfeiffer falls below the .500 mark at 13-14.

FMU will play a three-game Peach Belt Conference series at Flagler College this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Stoner (3-0) relieved FMU starter Tyler Lehman in the top of the first with two runners on, one out, and the Patriots already trailing 2-0.  He induced an RBI ground out and then struck out the next Falcon hitter to end the threat.  He would then allow only three base runners (all singles) over the next eight frames.  He ended his 8.2 inning-stint with six strikeouts and no walks while needing only 82 pitches.

Francis Marion was held hitless by Pfeiffer starter Austin Campbell (2-1) through the first three innings.  FMU erupted for four runs in the fifth.  Center fielder Buddy Sosnoskie started the rally with a lead-off single to right.  He would later score after being caught in a run-down between third and home and obstruction was called on a Pfeiffer infielder.  Catcher Brian Paulhus brought home the second run with an RBI grounder to second base.  Second baseman Brock McCallister plated the tying run with an RBI single to left center field and then he scored the go-ahead tally on a double by designated hitter John Jones.

The Patriots scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings on safety squeezes by Tyler Cappelmann and Preston Shuey.

Jones finished the game 3-for-4, while right fielder Tyler Boyd was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Designated hitter Eric Shoemaker ripped a two-run single off the first base bag in Pfeiffer's three-run first inning. Third baseman Aarin Sharpe brought home the other Falcon run with an RBI grounder.  Center fielder Hunter Boehme was the lone Falcon with more than one hit as he was 2-for-3.

#20 Francis Marion Univ. 6, Pfeiffer 3 (Mar 15, 2011 at Florence, SC)
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Pfeiffer............        300 000 000  -  3  5  0      (13-14)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 041 10X  -  6  7  0      (17-8)
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Pitchers: Pfeiffer - Austin Campbell; Ethan Marsh (7); Chuck Ingram (8) and Jesse Dunn.
Francis Marion Univ. - Tyler Lehman; Jeffrey Stoner (1) and Brian Paulhus.
Win-Jeffrey Stoner (3-0)  Loss-Austin Campbell (2-1)  T-1:52  A-44
Weather: Partly cloudy, 69 degrees
Campbell faced 1 batter in the 7th.

        Jeffrey Stoner