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COLUMBUS, GA- Junior Will Chandler belted a three-run homer as seventh-ranked Francis Marion University rallied for a 7-3 win in the opening game of Sunday's (Feb. 19) Peach Belt Conference doubleheader showdown with fifth-ranked Columbus State University. CSU won a pitcher's duel in game two 1-0 to split the twinbill.
The two teams will play the final game of the series on Monday at 1:30 p.m. FMU moves to 6-4 overall, while Columbus State is 8-1. Both teams are 1-1 in the PBC.
In the opener, FMU recovered from what could have been a disastrous start to its conference slate. The first two CSU batters walked on eight pitches and eventually came around to score on a two-run double by Brett Teschner. The Cougars added a run in the second inning, so after recording only four outs the Patriots had surrendered three runs.
However, junior right-hander Spencer Jordan (2-1) settled in and pitched 6.2 strong innings. He allowed just six hits – only three after the second inning – and struck out four while walking five. Sophomore righty Jeffrey Stoner came on to get the last seven outs to earn his first career save. He stranded three Cougars on base in the bottom of the seventh.
A two-out RBI infield single by senior Brock McCallister trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the third and Chandler's three-run shot to right center field highlighted a four-run fourth inning that put FMU ahead to stay at 5-3.
Junior right fielder Jarrod Reed's two-out, two-run single up the middle pushed the Patriot advantage to 7-3 in the top of the seventh.
Junior first baseman Stephen Tarkenton continued his torrid hitting with a 4-for-5 performance in game one, while Reed was 3-for-3. Both McCallister and junior catcher Jacob Golliday had two hits in the opener.
In the second contest, CSU's Brodie Leibrandt outdueled FMU junior right-hander Don Sandifer. Leibrandt (3-0) limited Francis Marion to seven hits, while striking out six and issuing no walks. Sandifer (0-2) was nearly as good, scattering nine hits, fanning six, and walking no one.
CSU broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh when ninth-place hitter Kenny Miller stroked a one-out RBI single to left.
Francis Marion left runners in scoring position in the fourth, seventh, and eighth innings.
Chandler was 3-for-4 in the second contest, while Tarkenton added another hit in game two.
#7 Francis Marion 7, #5 Columbus State U. 3 (Feb 19, 2012 at Columbus, GA) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 001 400 200 - 7 14 2 (6-3, 1-0 PBC)
Columbus State U.... 210 000 000 - 3 7 2 (7-1, 0-1 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Spencer Jordan; Jeffrey Stoner (7) and Jacob Golliday.
Columbus State U. - Carpenter; Mizell (8); Devault (9) and Teschner.
Win-Spencer Jordan (2-1) Save-Jeffrey Stoner (1) Loss-Carpenter (2-1) T-2:35 A-0
HR FMU - Will Chandler (1).
Weather: 56 degrees, cloudy
#5 Columbus State U. 1, #7 Francis Marion 0 (Feb 19, 2012 at Columbus, GA) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 000 000 000 - 0 7 1 (6-4, 1-1 PBC)
Columbus State U.... 000 000 10X - 1 9 1 (8-1, 1-1 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Don Sandifer and Brian Paulhus; Jacob Golliday. Columbus State U. -
Leibrandt and Teschner.
Win-Leibrandt (3-0) Loss-Don Sandifer (0-2) T-2:05 A-137
Weather: cloudy, windy
