COLUMBUS, GA – Columbus State University took advantage of a pair of Francis Marion University errors to score four unearned runs and the 25th-ranked Cougars went on to edge the Patriots 6-4, Friday night (March 21) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.

The Patriots fall to 13-13 overall and 3-10 in the PBC, while CSU improves to 22-8 and 10-3.  The two squads will conclude their weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m. on the Cougars' Ragsdale Field.

FMU senior right-hander Jeffrey Stoner (0-1) made his first start of the season and was tagged with the loss.  He allowed four runs on five hits in 2.2 innings.  However, only one of the runs was earned.

Senior shortstop Michael Wilson led the Patriots at the plate with a 3-for-4 evening, including a solo home run.

Francis Marion took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning as senior center fielder Isaac Davenport drilled a two-run single to center scoring Marquis Curry and Brett Fulmer, both of whom had singled to lead off the frame.

CSU answered with four runs in the third inning on two hits, four walks, a wild pitch, and a costly fielding error.  Blake Edwards and Carson Bowers had the two hits, both two-run singles. The Patriots trimmed the deficit to 4-3 on Wilson's solo shot to right center with two-outs in the fifth.  However, the Cougars scored twice in the sixth, one tally helped by a Patriot throwing error, to extend the advantage to 6-3.

Senior Dalton Gress doubled to lead off the FMU eighth, moved to third on a groundout, and scored the game's final run on Curry's sacrifice fly.

Mike McGinnity (4-0) pitched the first six innings to earn the win, while Trey Watson retired the Patriots in order in the ninth to pick up his fourth save.

Senior righty Brandon Stoots relieved Stoner and pitched the final 5.1 innings, allowing two runs – one earned – on three hits with five strikeouts.  Stoner also fanned five Cougar batters.