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FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University's first three batters of the game reached base and scored and then at the tail end of the contest junior right-hander Jeffrey Stoner pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief as the eighth-ranked Patriots beat 14th-ranked USC Aiken 5-3, Friday evening (April 20) in the opening game of a key three-game Peach Belt Conference baseball series.

Francis Marion, 20-4 in its last 24 contests, improves to 32-13 overall and moves into a first-place tie (with Armstrong Atlantic State University) in the East Division standings.  USCA falls to 30-15 and 17-11.

The two teams will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m.  Admission to Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium is $8 for adults and $5 for students.

Junior righty Spencer Jordan (8-3) started for FMU and picked up the win after allowing three runs on 10 hits with eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings.  Stoner entered and earned his fifth save of the year, and fourth in the past six games. 

Stoner's key at bat was when he fanned USCA leadoff batter Stephen Carmon to end the eighth inning with a pair of Pacers on base. Carmon entered the game as the second toughest batter to strikeout in NCAA Division II, having struck out only four times in 186 at bats.

To open the bottom of the first, sophomore shortstop Michael Wilson singled, senior outfielder Tyler Boyd was hit by a pitch, and senior second baseman Brock McCallister reached on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs.  The Patriots were able to scratch out three runs in the inning – on RBI singles by senior center fielder Buddy Sosnoskie, junior third baseman Stephen Tarkenton, and junior right fielder Jarrod Reed – but could have done more damage if not for leaving the bases loaded.

The Pacers got one run back in the top of the second frame when right fielder Will Tankersley hit a mammoth solo home run to ;left field, a shot that travel nearly 400 feet and landed in the stadium parking lot.

FMU increased it advantage to 5-1 with single runs in the fourth (RBI-single to center field by Sosnoskie) and sixth (RBI groundout by McCallister) innings.

USCA scored twice in the seventh on a two-double to right center by Nick Aranas to trim the margin to 5-3.  After an infield single put runners at first and third, Stoner entered the game and got Tankersley to fly out and end the inning.

Wilson led the Patriots with his fourth three-hit game of the season, while McCallister and Sosnoskie were both 2-for-4.  Sosnoskie extended his hitting streak to nine games, while Boyd was 1-for-4 and pushed his career-best streak to 16 consecutive games.

Josh Miller, Ty Barkell, and Aranas all had two hits for the Pacers.  USCA starter Derek Beasley (7-4) was tagged with the loss as he managed to record only one out in the first inning.  Reliever Thomas McLeod pitched 7.2 innings and allowed only two runs on six hits.

The Patriots honored long-time athletic trainer Spyder Webb, who is retiring this summer, with the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.

#8 Francis Marion Univ. 5, #14 USC Aiken 3 (Apr 20, 2012 at Florence, SC)
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USC Aiken...........     010 000 200  -  3 12  1      (30-15, 17-11 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 300 101 00X  -  5 11  2      (32-13, 18-9 PBC)
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Pitchers: USC Aiken - Derek Beasley; Thomas McLeod(1) and Josh Miller. Francis Marion Univ. -
Spencer Jordan; Jeffrey Stoner(7) and Jacob Golliday.
Win-Spencer Jordan(8-3)  Save-Jeffrey Stoner(5)  Loss-Derek Beasley(7-4)  T-2:36  A-371
HR USCA - Will Tankersley (6).
Weather: Mostly clear, 72 degrees