Like Francis Marion Athletics on Facebook!

GAFFNEY, SC – Junior right fielder Jarrod Reed and senior second baseman Brock McCallister each drove in a pair of runs to lead 22nd-ranked Francis Marion University to a 4-2 road win over Limestone College, Tuesday afternoon (March 13) in non-conference baseball action.

Francis Marion improves to 16-9 with its sixth win in the past seven games.  FMU will play host to California University of Pennsylvania (9-7) on Wednesday at 3 p.m. on Cormell Field.

FMU junior right-hander Tyler Hibbs (1-0) earned the win in relief.  Making only his second mound appearance of the season, he pitched the final four frames, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out three.  Patriot starter Don Sandifer pitched well as he gave up just one run on four hits in five innings, while fanning four.

After Limestone scored a first-inning run, the Patriots tied the score in the third.  Junior first baseman Luke Tollison doubled to lead off the frame, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Boyd, and crossed home on Reed's sacrifice fly to center field.

FMU took a 2-1 advantage when McCallister homered over the left field fence with two outs in the fourth.  McCallister, who entered the game as the total hits leader for NCAA Division II, added to his total with a 2-for-3 afternoon.

Limestone knotted the contest at 2-2 with an unearned run in the last of the sixth, but FMU scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to claim the win.  Boyd was hit by a pitch to open the eighth.  He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Wilson, and scored on Reed's RBI double down the right field line.

FMU catcher Will Chandler singled to lead off the ninth and moved to third on the play when the ball was misplayed in the outfield.  McCallister followed with a run-scoring single to right center field.  Chandler finished the game 2-for-4.

Limestone, coached by former Patriot outfielder and FMU graduate Chico Lombardo, falls to 8-15 with the loss.  Relief pitcher Andrew Thompson (0-1) was saddled with the loss.

Francis Marion also entered the game as the national leader in Division II for total hits.  The Patriots are ranked seventh nationally in sacrifice bunts and were able to add three to that total on Tuesday, two of which factored in frames that produced runs.