Ninth-ranked and second-seeded Francis Marion University scored twice in the top of the 11th inning on RBI hits by Brooks Arnette and Buddy Sosnoskie to claim a wild 9-7 win over 19th-ranked and fifth-seeded Catawba College, Saturday afternoon (May 21) in an elimination game at the 2011 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Baseball Tournament.

Francis Marion improves to 39-15 and advances to face seventh-ranked and third-seeded UNC Pembroke on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.  Catawba ends its season 41-15.  The Indians had beaten FMU 2-1 in 10 innings earlier in the tournament on Thursday.

Sosnoskie, the Peach Belt Conference Co-Player of the Year, was 4-for-6 with a double, a triple, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.  Arnette, a defensive replacement early in the game, batted 2-for-4 with the key RBI.  Senior first baseman Preston Shuey was 2-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs. Shuey tied the school's single-season record for runs batted in at 66, set previously by catcher Rich Keirstead.  He also extended his own career record for RBIs to 212.

Junior righty Jarrott Hooks (5-1) captured the win with two scoreless innings.  He was the losing pitcher in the loss to Catawba on Thursday.

Francis Marion pounded out 14 hits, while Catawba had 16 safeties, but the Indians stranded 15 runners on base.

"This was a game played by two teams in desperation; two teams low on pitching; that had problems stopping each other," said FMU head coach Art Inabinet.  "We were fortunate to hang on and advance."

"I am happy for the kids.  They battled, prolonged their season, and now we get to play again.  We will battle against UNCP and see where the chips fall."

Catcher Brian Paulhus, also a defensive replacement, started the winning rally with two outs in the top of the 11th frame.  Michael Wilson dropped a single into left field to put runners on first and second.  Arnette then singled to center field scoring Paulhus with the go-ahead run with Wilson taking third when the Catawba center fielder had trouble handling the ball.  Sosnoskie followed with a single to center to plate Wilson with the ninth run.

Hooks allowed a one-out walk in the bottom of the inning, but retired the next two batters to keep the Patriot tournament hopes alive.  Shortstop Tyler Cappelmann and Shuey combining on a fine defensive play to retire the Indians' lead-off batter Ryan Bostain for the final out.

Francis Marion took advantage of a two-out infield error by the Indians in the top of the eighth to plate three unearned runs.  Defensive replacement Tyler Boyd delivered an RBI double and Cappelmann stroked an RBI single.

Francis Marion used five pitchers and 14 position players in the contest.

However, Catawba rallied against FMU closer Patrick Mincey, scoring once in the bottom of the eighth and twice in the last of the ninth to force extra innings.

Center fielder Keaton Hawks led Catawba at the plate with a 4-for-5 day including an RBI, while shortstop Brett Underwood was 4-for-6 with an RBI.  Third baseman Chris Dula was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and designated hitter Garrett Furr was 2-for-6 with a two-run homer and an RBI double.

Furr's two-run shot erased an early FMU lead and gave the Indians a 3-2 lead.  FMU's John Jones hit a solo homer in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3, and after Catawba went up 4-3, Shuey hit a solo shot in the sixth to again deadlock the score at 4-4.