MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Sophomore right-hander Don Sandifer pitched six strong innings in relief on two days rest and ninth-ranked and second-seeded Francis Marion University pounded out 19 hits to upset second-ranked and top-seeded Mount Olive College 9-7, Sunday afternoon (May 22) in the championship round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Baseball Tournament.  The win forces the "if necessary" championship game on Sunday at 5:01 p.m.

FMU improves to 41-15, while the Trojans fall to 44-8.

Senior second baseman Brooks Arnette, senior first baseman Preston Shuey, and senior left fielder Martin Gordon stroked three hits apiece to lead the FMU attack at the plate. Arnette, Gordon, and junior catcher Jeff Gaston (2-for-3) all drove in two runs.

Sandifer (11-3) relieved Patriot starter Tyler Lehman in the fourth inning.  The Bamberg native then threw 110 pitches, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits.  He threw 129 pitches in a nine-inning no decision in Thursday's tournament opener.

Holding a 9-5 lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning, Sandifer was touched for two runs on three hits.  However, shortstop Tyler Cappelmann turned a key double play during the frame and Sandifer stranded the tying runs on base when he played a role in the game's final out.  Mount Olive designated hitter Tyler Smith drilled a ball back at Sandifer that he knocked down with his glove hand.  The ball deflected into foul territory only a few feet from the first base bag and Shuey gloved the ball and stepped on the bag.

Francis Marion loaded the bases in the top of the first inning on a pair of singles and a walk, but could not push across a run. In the bottom of the frame, the Trojans scratched the game's first run when Jason Simone doubled to left center with two outs and crossed home plate on an RBI single to right by Jacob Rogers.

The Patriots plated four runs in the top of the second, getting RBI singles from Gaston, Arnette, and Buddy Sosnoskie.  Shuey drove in the fourth run with a sacrifice fly and in the process set an FMU single-season record for RBIs with 67 breaking the old mark set by Rich Keirstead.

Mount Olive rallied to knot the score at 4-4 with a three-run fourth that chased Lehman.

FMU immediately regained the lead (8-4) with a four-run fifth.  Shuey ignited the frame with a lead-off bunt single.  Following a sacrifice bunt, John Jones and Tyler Boyd drilled back-to-back RBI doubles, and Gaston and Arnette completed the inning with their second run-scoring singles of the contest.

The Patriots gave back one run of their four-run advantage, allowing an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth, as the Trojans closed to within 8-5.  However, a two-out RBI single to right center by Gordon in the top of the sixth put FMU up 9-5. Shuey led off the frame with a double down the left field line.

Francis Marion had a run taken off the board in the top of the ninth when Cappelmann scored on a fly ball by Michael Wilson, but the umpire ruled Cappelmann left early when Mount Olive appealed the play.

Righty Curtis Hudson (5-3) was the losing pitcher, allowing five runs on eight hits in only 3.2 innings. Both Simone and Rogers had three hits for the Trojans, with Rogers driving in two.

"I figured to be the second guy out of the pen when I saw I wasn't starting," said Sandifer after the game.  "I did everything I could to prepare for a quick turn-around, with long toss, running, and heat treatments. Adrenaline carried me through the first couple of innings.

"I didn't expect to go quite that long, but we had the big lead.  Then I almost blew it at the end.  The double play in the ninth helped.

"I hope that I helped out our pitching staff by eating up innings.  Coach (Inabinet) kept asking if I was OK, but I was not going to ask out."