AIKEN, SC – After rallying to tie the game with a run in the top of the ninth inning, Francis Marion University gave away an unearned run in the bottom of the frame and allowed sixth-ranked USC Aiken to escape with a 3-2 win, Saturday evening (Feb. 23) in the Peach Belt Conference baseball opener for both squads.

FMU (4-4, 0-1) and the Pacers (9-1, 1-0) will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Because of weather postponements, Francis Marion was playing its first game in 13 days and its first road contest of the season.

Senior third baseman Stephen Tarkenton and senior first baseman Rhodes Dickerson each registered two hits for the Patriots.

FMU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when junior shortstop Michael Wilson rapped a two-out single down the left field line.  He moved to second on an infield error and came around to score on Tarkenton's run-scoring single to right center field.

USCA posted single tallies in the fourth and sixth innings to take a 2-1 advantage.

In the top of the ninth, Dickerson led off with a walk.  Junior Josh Hardwick replaced Dickerson as a pinch runner and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a ground out to second.  Down to their last out, Hardwick raced home on a passed ball to knot the score at 2-2.

In the bottom of the frame, Ryan Metzler led off with a single to right against junior right-handed reliever Brandon Stoots (0-1).  After sophomore righty Chris Harrison relieved Stoots, Metzler advanced to second on a bunt single.  He then came home with the winning run when a sacrifice bunt was errored on by the Patriot defense.

Senior righty Gary Ashcraft started for FMU and allowed two runs on five hits in 5.1 innings. He fanned seven and did not issue a walk.

USCA's Taylor Glover (1-0) got the win despite allowing the tying run in the ninth.