FLORENCE, SC – Junior second baseman Brett Fulmer made a diving over the shoulder catch in shallow right field to end the game and strand three King University base runners as Francis Marion University rallied late for an improbable 12-10 win and a split of a non-conference baseball doubleheader on Saturday (Feb. 15) afternoon.

The Tornado used a seven-run second-inning in Saturday's opener to claim a 7-4 victory.

The two teams will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. on FMU's Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium.

To earn the split, Francis Marion (6-2) scored a combined nine runs in the seven and eighth innings to erase a 10-3 deficit.  Sophomore third baseman JD Crowe lined a two-run single off the first baseman's glove to plate the two go-ahead runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Earlier in the inning, senior first baseman David DeWolfe laced a two-run single through the right side and right fielder Zac Lenns tied the game at 10-10 with an RBI grounder that was booted.

Crowe finished game two 3-for-5 with the two RBIs and a run scored.  Junior catcher Nicholas McGee was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one driven in, while senior center fielder Isaac Davenport went 2-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs and in the process extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

The rally gave freshman reliever Gordon Owens (1-0) his first collegiate win as he tossed two scoreless and hitless innings.  Senior closer Jeffrey Stoner earned his second save of 2014 with a scoreless ninth, although King did load the bases on a single and two walks before Fulmer's clutch catch.

Left fielder Tyler Gaby led King with a 3-for-5 game that included an RBI double and a three-run homer.  King reliever Alex Martin (0-3) was tagged with the loss, although six of the nine runs he allowed were unearned as the Tornado committed a total of seven errors.

In the first contest, King roughed up Patriot starter Jordy Santak (2-1) for seven runs on seven hits and two walks in the second frame alone.  FMU answered with two runs in the bottom of the same inning on RBI grounders by Fulmer and second baseman Cole Morris.

The margin stood at 7-2 until the last of the eighth when DeWolfe (as a pinch hitter) and Davenport produced run-scoring singles to trim the deficit to three runs. However, the Patriots left the bases loaded in that frame and then stranded two more runners in the ninth. Altogether, FMU left 13 runners on base in game one and 27 combined for the twinbill.

Davenport and senior shortstop Michael Wilson both had two hits in the opener.  Wilson also had a hit (and two RBIs) in game two to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, dating back to last season.

Two Patriot relievers, Brandon Stoots and Chance DuCharme, combined for seven shutout innings in the opener – six by Stoots – to allow for the opportunity for a Patriot comeback.

Right fielder Tom Hooker led King at the plate as he went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while three other Tornado players had two hits apice.  Lefty starter Alexander Gonzalez (1-2) was the winning pitcher as he pitched into the eighth inning and fanned eight Patriot batters.

Francis Marion Univ. 12, King (TN) University 10 (Feb 15, 2014 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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King (TN) University 101 602 000  - 10 11  7      (1-7)
Francis Marion Univ. 110 010 27X  - 12 13  3      (6-2)
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Pitchers: King (TN) University - Cory Rhodes; Alex Martin(6); Brandon Houser(8); Ryan Nichols(8)
and J.D. Wallace. Francis Marion Univ. - Daniel Barfield; Chris Harrison(4); Gordon Owens(7);
Jeffrey Stoner(9) and Nicholas McGee.
Win-Gordon Owens(1-0)  Save-Jeffrey Stoner(1)  Loss-Alex Martin(0-3)  T-3:23  A-0
HR KING - Tyler Gaby.
Weather: 53, Mostly clear, NW at 18 mph

King (TN) University 7, Francis Marion Univ. 4 (Feb 15, 2014 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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King (TN) University 070 000 000  -  7 12  2      (1-6)
Francis Marion Univ. 020 000 020  -  4 10  0      (5-2)
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Pitchers: King (TN) University - Alexander Gonzalez; Cory Rhodes(8) and J.D. Wallace.
Francis Marion Univ. - Jordy Santak; Brandon Stoots(3); Chance DuCharme(9) and JD Crowe.
Win-Alexander Gonzalez(1-2)  Loss-Jordy Santak(2-1)  T-2:44  A-494
Weather: 52, Partly Sunny, NW at 21 mph