FLORENCE, S.C. (February 1, 2014) – Francis Marion University struck for four runs in the first inning and six in the fifth on its way to an easy 15-3 victory over Limestone College to open the season in the second game of the 2014 Carolinas Hospital System Classic, Saturday evening at Sparrow Stadium.

The Patriots will play two games tomorrow in the final day of the classic. FMU will face Mars Hill at 12 p.m. before closing out the tourney at 6 p.m. against Pfeiffer. (PLEASE NOTE the new starting times).

Newcomer Jordy Santak (1-0) took the victory in his Patriot debut by throwing five strong innings with six strikeouts and only allowing one walk. Limestone's Jameson McGrane (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits and six walks with two strikeouts.

At the plate, the Patriots were led by senior outfielder Marquis Curry who tallied four runs batted in on three hits while scoring a run. Senior Isaac Davenport also recorded three hits with three RBIs, three runs scored, and a walk. Senior Luke Tollison was 2-for-5 at the plate with a double, three RBIs, a walk, and a run scored.

Limestone fell to 1-1 on the young season after earning a 2-1 walk-off victory over Mars Hill in the first game of the classic. The Saints are led by Francis Marion graduate, former Patriot outfielder, and FMU Athletic Hall of Fame member Chico Lombardo.

FMU senior shortstop Michael Wilson opened the season with a double, and quickly scored on a Davenport single up the middle. Sophomore JD Crowe moved Davenport over to second with a single, and Davenport scored on a Curry single two batters later. McGrane walked in the game's next two runs before Cole Morris ended the inning on a groundout to second.

Santak ran into his only trouble of the night in the top of the second inning. The Saints scored their first two runs off singles from Julian Bridges and Tyler Wood after Santak hit a batter and recorded a throwing error. Limestone pushed across another run on a sacrifice fly, but Santak worked out of the jam by striking out the final two batters of the inning.

After adding a run in the second off a Tollison double, the Patriots struck big in the fifth inning with six runs on four hits and an error. Dalton Gress hit an RBI double, while Davenport pushed across a run on a single. Curry also recorded his second RBI single as well.

The Patriots added two insurance runs in the seventh on RBIs from Tollison and Curry. They also struck for the final two runs of the game on an error at second base and a Crowe groundout.

Patriot junior righty Jeremy Hatfield threw three scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts and no walks. Sophomore righty Chance DuCharme struck out the side in an inning of relief to close out the game.

Limestone's Mike Gonzalez was 2-4 at the plate, while six other Saints registered a hit.