FLORENCE, SC – Junior right-hander Jarrott Hooks pitched a three-hit shutout and 13th-ranked Francis Marion University used a pair of sacrifice flies to capture a 2-0 victory over Clarion University, Wednesday afternoon (March 9) in game one of their non-conference baseball doubleheader.  Five Patriot hurlers then combined on a three-hitter in the second contest as FMU completed the sweep with a 10-1 win.

Francis Marion (15-6) will return to Peach Belt Conference action this weekend as the Patriots entertain 20th-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University for a three-game series.  The two squads will play a single game on Saturday at 3 p.m. and a doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Hooks (2-0) was making only his third career start in the opener, but he needed just 74 pitches to complete the seven-inning game.  He struck out four and issued no walks.  The Marion native has allowed only one earned run in 20 innings this season.

Junior outfielders Tyler Boyd and Buddy Sosnoskie accounted for the FMU runs with sacrifice flies in the second and fifth innings.  Both senior shortstop Tyler Cappelmann and freshman left fielder Dalton Gress were 2-for-3 in the first game to lead FMU at the plate.

Clarion junior righty Mark White (0-1) was the tough-luck loser as he allowed eight hits and struck out two in six frames.

In game two, Clarion (2-5) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when junior designated hitter Ken Morgan lofted a solo home run over the left field fence.  FMU quickly answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame and added three more in the last of the third.

Freshman right-hander Jeffrey Stoner (2-0) was the designated three-inning starter and picked up the win.  Corey Carver, Sebie Kirkland, Jeremy Knab, and Sam Pepper all registered one shutout inning on the mound for FMU.

Cappelmann was 3-for-3 in game two with two runs scored and two runs batted in.  Boyd, senior left fielder Martin Gordon, and freshman third baseman Michael Wilson all had two hits.  Junior catcher Jeff Gaston drove in a pair of runs for the Patriots.

Clarion sophomore Jon Roncolato (0-1) allowed six runs – only three were earned – and was tagged with the loss.

Shortstop Jerico Weitzel had a hit in each game for the Golden Eagles.

#13 Francis Marion Univ. 2, Clarion University 0 (Mar 09, 2011 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Clarion University.. 000 000 0 -  0  3  0      (2-4)
Francis Marion Univ. 010 010 X -  2  8  0      (14-6)
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Pitchers: Clarion University - Mark White and Ken Morgan. Francis Marion Univ. - Jarrott Hooks
and Brian Paulhus.
Win-Jarrott Hooks (2-0)  Loss-Mark White (0-1)  T-1:25  A-153
Weather: Overcast, WINDY, 63 degrees

#13 Francis Marion Univ. 10, Clarion University 1 (Mar 09, 2011 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Clarion University..   010 000 0 -  1  3  2      (2-5)
Francis Marion Univ. 033 004 X - 10 13  0      (15-6)
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Pitchers: Clarion University - Jon Roncolato; Seth Peterson (3); Corbin Ragley (6);
Bill Ruhland (6) and Chad White. Francis Marion Univ. - Jeffrey Stoner; Corey Carver (4);
Sebie Kirkland (5); Jeremy Knab (6); Sam Pepper (7) and Jeff Gaston; Zac Livingston.
Win-Jeffrey Stoner (2-0)  Loss-Jon Roncolato (0-1)  T-1:39
HR CLAR-B - Ken Morgan.
Weather: Still windy, getting colder

        Jarrott Hooks                     Tyler Cappelmann