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NEWBERRY, SC- Seventh-ranked Francis Marion University spotted senior right-hander Jarrott Hooks seven runs and that would be more than enough as the Patriots cruised to a 7-3 win over Newberry College, Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 15) at the Smith Road Complex in Newberry, S.C.

Francis Marion will open up its Peach Belt Conference slate this Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. (Feb.18) when the Patriots visits fifth-ranked Columbus State University for a three-game set in Columbus, Ga.  FMU was picked to finish first in PBC preseason coaches' poll, while the Cougars were tabbed for second. The teams will close out the series on Sunday (Feb. 19) with a game starting at 1 p.m.

FMU (5-3) got 8.1 innings pitched from Hooks (1-0) who scattered 10 hits, struck out five, and allowed only three earned runs before freshman southpaw Tyler Smith came on to get the final two outs and close out the win.

The Patriots jumped on the Wolves (2-5) for two runs in the first inning when junior Stephen Tarkenton doubled down the leftfield line for two RBIs, scoring senior Brock McCallister and sophomore Michael Wilson.

FMU added to their lead in the top of the fifth on junior Jarrod Reed's two-out RBI double that scored senior Buddy Sosnoskie, who led off the inning with a two-bagger of his own. Newberry cut into the three-run FMU lead on an RBI single from Andy Vogel in the bottom half of the frame making it 3-1.

An RBI double down the right field line by McCallister scored junior Reggie Weatherford in the top of the sixth inning which ended up being the deciding run.

Sosnoskie led the Patriots' 14-hit parade going 3-for-4 with the double and run scored.  Other Patriots with multi-hit games included McCallister (2-for-5), junior infielder Tyler Hibbs (2-for-4) and Reed (2-for-5).

Francis Marion sweep the season series from Newberry as FMU beat the Wolves 5-4 a week ago at Cormell Field