FLORENCE, S.C. (March 2, 2014) – Senior infielder Luke Tollison hit the go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Francis Marion University topped Georgia Southwestern State University 5-4 in the final game of the Peach Belt Conference baseball series at Sparrow Stadium.

FMU improves its overall record to 9-7 and 2-4 in PBC play. The Patriots will return to action Tuesday, March 4, when they travel to Orangeburg, S.C., to face Claflin University. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Tollison was 2-for-4 at the plate, with a run batted in. Senior outfielder Marquis Curry was 2-for-3 from the dish with an RBI double, while senior designated hitter Dalton Gress and senior shortstop Michael Wilson each recorded a hit and a RBI.

The Patriot's right-handed starter Jordy Santak (3-2) took the win on the mound after throwing seven strong innings with two strikeouts. Georgia Southwestern's (4-13, 2-7) Lance Shelton (1-4) took the loss on the hill after giving up three earned runs on four hits, and handing out two walks. Junior righty Jeremy Hatfield earned the save (2).

Francis Marion was on the scoreboard early with when junior outfielder Zac Lenns scored on an error by Canes' second baseman Lance Cromer. Tollison had an infield single to begin the inning, and Lenns reached base via an error before stealing second base.

GSW took a 2-1 lead after putting up single runs in the third and fifth innings. However, FMU would tie the game on Curry's RBI double that scored Gress, who reached base earlier in the inning on a hit-by-pitch.

In the bottom half of the seventh inning, junior second baseman Brett Fulmer drew a walk, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wilson. Senior first baseman David DeWolfe also drew a walk, putting two men on base when Tollison hit the RBI double to put FMU up 3-2. Gress hit an infield single to score DeWolfe two batters later.

The Patriots added an insurance run in the eighth inning on an RBI double by Wilson to make the score 5-2. Sophomore righty John Rossi pitched the eighth in relief of Santak, and only allowed an infield single before ending the inning on a popup to second base.

Hatfield, a Florence native, came into the ninth inning to close, but ran into some trouble when he allowed two runs on a single by Dylan Griffin. The Canes got another base hit to put runners at first and second, but Hatfield retired Josh Sanders on a fly-out to right field to earn the save and give the Patriots the series-clinching victory.  

Josh Sanders led the way for GSW at the plate with three hits. Jarrod Taylor was 2.-for-5 with a RBI.