FLORENCE, SC – Senior center fielder Jarrod Reed pounded out three hits in his first appearance of the year in the lead-off spot and senior catcher Will Chandler drove in three runs with a pair of hits as Francis Marion University handed Benedict College its first loss of the season by a 9-4 score, Wednesday evening (March 13) in non-conference baseball action.

Francis Marion improves to 10-7 and will now take to the road for a three-game Peach Belt Conference series at Georgia College.  The two teams will play a single game on Saturday at 3 p.m. and a doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Benedict (9-1) entered the game leading NCAA Division II in stolen bases, averaging more than 13 swipes a game and were 120-for-134 in nine contests.  However against Chandler and four Patriot hurlers, the Tigers were 0-for-4 in the stolen base department.

In addition to his three hits, Reed also scored one run and drove in another.  Chandler was 2-for-3 and scored once. 

Benedict sophomore third baseman Lashante Grimes was 1-for-3 and drove in three runs with a two-run single in the second and a run-scoring infield grounder in the seventh.

FMU sophomore right-hander Chris Harrison (2-0) made his second start of 2013 and allowed three runs on three hits in six innings.  He struck out eight batters and walked five.  Three Patriot relievers limited the Tigers to a single run on one hit over the final three frames.

Benedict righty Yaniel Delgado (4-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season as he surrendered nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits in four innings.

Francis Marion scored all the runs it would need in the bottom of the first as the Patriots batted around and scored five times.  The inning included an RBI single by junior designated hitter David DeWolfe, a two-run double by Chandler, and a two-run triple by senior leftfielder Jacob Golliday.

After Benedict pulled to within 5-3, the Patriots plated their remaining four runs in the fourth frame.  The outburst consisted of RBI-doubles by Reed and junior shortstop Michael Wilson, a run-scoring single by senior third baseman Stephen Tarkenton, and an RBI-single by Chandler.

FMU senior first baseman Rhodes Dickerson was 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

Francis Marion Univ. 9, Benedict College 4 (Mar 13, 2013 at Florence, SC)
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Benedict College....   030 000 100  -  4  4  1      (9-1)
Francis Marion Univ. 500 400 00X  -  9 10  2      (10-7)
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Pitchers: Benedict College - Delgado,Yaniel; Thompson,McCartha(5); Perez,Angel(6);
Lail,Christopher(7); Smalls,Justin(8) and Moseby,Lydell. Francis Marion Univ. - Chris Harrison;
Chance DuCharme(7); Austin Cox(8); Justin Turbeville(9) and Will Chandler.
Win-Chris Harrison(2-0)  Loss-Delgado,Yaniel(4-1)  T-2:07  A-425
Weather: Mostly clear, 62, breezy