Box Score FLORENCE, SC – Freshman right-hander Jeffrey Stoner twirled a four-hitter and sixth-ranked Francis Marion University took advantage of three UNC Pembroke errors as the Patriots captured an 8-1 win on Monday afternoon (April 18) to complete a three-game Peach Belt Conference series sweep of the 10th-ranked Braves.
Francis Marion improves to 33-10 overall and 16-5 in the PBC – reducing the program's magic number for winning its first-ever PBC regular-season championship to one (one FMU win this weekend at Georgia Southwestern State University or one Armstrong Atlantic State University loss in its remaining six conference games). FMU wins for the 17th time in its last 19 games, including a 4-0 mark in the past week – a week that saw the Patriots never trail.
FMU pitchers allowed UNCP (33-10, 13-10) batters only 14 hits and one run in the three contests.
Stoner improved to 6-0 as the Martinez, Ga., native struck out six and walked only two, while recording his first complete game. Leading 5-0 in the fifth, he lost the shutout when Brave right fielder Brad Bridgeman homered over the left field fence. That run also snapped a scoreless innings streak of 30.1 innings (that covered four games) for the FMU pitching staff.
Francis Marion senior left fielder Martin Gordon was 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of runs batted in, while senior shortstop Tyler Cappelmann was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI while extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Junior center fielder Buddy Sosnoskie also extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a fifth-inning RBI single.
FMU broke a scoreless deadlock with five two-out unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning. Designated hitter John Jones singled home Cappelmann, who had reached on an error to open the inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Sosnoskie grounded to second base, but the throw to first was mishandled by the pitcher who was covering the bag, and two runners scored. Gordon followed with a two-single to right center that just eluded a diving UNCP center fielder.
Following Bridgeman's solo homer in the top of the fifth, Francis Marion answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame, including RBI hits by Sosnoskie, freshman right fielder Dalton Gress, and Cappelmann.
UNCP starter Brian Willis (5-3) was the losing pitcher, although he allowed only two earned runs, while striking out seven.
Tuesday's contest between FMU and Belmont Abbey College has been canceled. The Patriots will end their regular-season home schedule on Wednesday when they play host to local-rival Coker College at 6 p.m.
#6 Francis Marion Univ. 8, #10 UNC Pembroke 1 (Apr 18, 2011 at Florence, SC)
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UNC Pembroke........ 000 010 000 - 1 4 3 (33-10, 13-10 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 005 030 00X - 8 9 1 (33-10, 16-5 PBC)
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Pitchers: UNC Pembroke - Brian Willis; Brantley Hattrich (5); Braxton Lewis (7) and Alex Pearce.
Francis Marion Univ. - Jeffrey Stoner and Brian Paulhus.
Win-Jeffrey Stoner (6-0) Loss-Brian Willis (5-3) T-2:04 A-104
HR UNCP - Brad Bridgeman (3).
Weather: Clear, Sunny, 75 degrees
