Like Francis Marion Athletics on Facebook!

AUGUSTA, GA – Francis Marion University scored three times in the top of the third inning, aided by two Augusta State University errors, and the Patriots never looked back en route to a 4-1 Peach Belt Conference victory, Saturday afternoon (March 10) at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

The same two teams return to the field for a PBC doubleheader on Sunday, beginning at noon.

FMU (13-9, 5-5 PBC) succeeded in getting runners on base all game long, but strong situational pitching by the Jaguars (8-14, 1-9 PBC) kept them off the board for most of the game.

Patriot sophomore right-hander Jeffrey Stoner (3-1) tossed eight innings, giving up only five hits and one unearned run. He walked two and struck out 11, his second consecutive start in which he has fanned double-digit batters. Senior righty Jarrott Hooks threw a scoreless ninth for his third save of 2012.

In the decisive third, junior designated hitter Jacob Golliday walked to lead off the frame.  After a strikeout, he moved to third on an infield error on a ball hit by right fielder Jarrod Reed. Following a line-up, junior catcher Will Chandler reached on an infield error that allowed both Golliday and Reed to score.  Senior second baseman Brock McCallister then delivered an RBI single to right that plated Chandler.

ASU got a run in the bottom of the third as Caleb Saggus singled, moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt by the pitcher, and scored on Kevin Dodson's RBI single.

The Patriots added an insurance run in the seventh when McCallister walked and scored all the way from first on a two-out error by the ASU defense.

Junior third baseman Stephen Tarkenton, senior center fielder Buddy Sosnoskie, and McCallister all registered two hits for FMU.

Dylan Wall (0-3) took the hard-luck loss for the Jags in his first start back after dealing with an injury. The junior transfer from South Georgia gave up nine hits in five innings of work.
 

Francis Marion 4, Augusta State 1 (Mar 10, 2012 at Augusta, Ga.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 003 000 100  -  4 10  2      (13-9, 5-5 PBC)
Augusta State....... 001 000 000  -  1  5  5      (8-14, 1-9 PBC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion - Jeffrey Stoner; Jarrott Hooks(9) and Will Chandler. Augusta State -
Wall; Breaux(6); Lewis(7); Golden(8) and Appel.
Win-Jeffrey Stoner(3-1)  Save-Jarrott Hooks(3)  Loss-Wall(0-3)  T-2:11  A-188
Weather: Sunny, High of 67