COLUMBUS, GA – For the second time in three days, the ninth-ranked and top-seeded Francis Marion University baseball team fell behind early and then rallied late only to lose by two runs, this time 6-4 to Augusta State University on Tuesday morning (May 10) in an elimination game at the 2011 Peach Belt Conference Tournament.

Francis Marion falls to 37-14 and must now await Sunday night's announcement of the NCAA Division II Tournament field.  The Patriots are ranked second in the most recent Southeast Regional poll.  Six teams will comprise the NCAA regional tournament field.

Augusta State (23-29) moves on to face North Georgia College & State University later on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Junior second baseman Brock McCallister led FMU with two hits, while scoring two runs.  Senior designated hitter Chris Honeycutt was 1-for-4 and drove in all four of the Patriot tallies.

Senior right-hander Corey Carver (2-2) started for Francis Marion, but was pulled after allowing five earned runs on four hits in 1.2 innings.  Junior southpaw Matt Broderick came in and allowed only one run on two hits over the final 6.1 innings, while fanning six.

ASU took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run double to deep left field by Jeff Rice.  Jake Sutton chased Carver from the mound with a three-run homer down the left field line in the bottom of the second that stretched the Jaguars' lead to 5-0.

Broderick's effective work then allowed the Patriots to battle back into the contest.

With bases loaded and one out in the third, Francis Marion scored its first run on a fielder's choice grounder by Honeycutt.  The Patriots loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, but could manage only one run, that coming in on a sacrifice fly by Honeycutt to trim the deficit to 5-2.

Augusta State upped its lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning on Alex Walker's first homer of the year.

In the top of the eighth, Honeycutt belted a two-run homer that bounced on the top of the right field wall and went over to cut the Jaguar lead to 6-4.  It was Honeycutt's first long ball of the year and his third career clout.

Francis Marion threatened in the ninth frame as Brooks Arnette led off with a walk and McCallister singled through the left side.  Both runners moved up one base on a sacrifice bunt by Buddy Sosnoskie. However, ASU reliever Patrick Lowe got FMU clean-up hitter Preston Shuey to fly out to shallow left field and then he struck out Honeycutt to end the game.

ASU starter Josh Barks (2-3) picked up the win.  He allowed only two hits and one earned run in six innings, while registering three strikeouts. Lowe earned his first save of the season by pitching the final three innings.

For ASU, Sutton and Rice both went 2-for-4.

Francis Marion outhit the Jaguars 8-6, but left 10 runners on base.

       Chris Honeycutt