COLUMBUS, GA – Francis Marion University dropped both ends of its Saturday afternoon (March 22) Peach Belt Conference baseball doubleheader with 25th-ranked Columbus State University, losing 14-5 in the opener and 13-6 in the second contest.

The Patriots (13-15, 3-12) will play host to Barton College on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

In the first game, the Patriots took a 3-1 lead through four innings, but a five-run fifth frame gave the lead back to CSU (24-8, 12-3), which never trailed again.

Patriots' starter Jordy Santak (3-4) took the loss after giving up five runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and a walk. The Cougars' Caden Ferguson (4-2) earned the victory on the mound despite giving up five runs (four earned).

After CSU opened the game with a run in the bottom of the first inning, FMU put up three runs in the top of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead .The Patriots loaded the bases on a single by senior shortstop Michael Wilson and walks to senior designated hitter Dalton Gress and senior left fielder Marquis Curry. Junior catcher Nicholas McGee hit a bases-loaded double to score Wilson and Gress, while Curry continued around to score from first base on a throwing error.

Trailing 6-3 heading into the top of the seventh inning, McGee hit his second double of the day. After sophomore second baseman Cole Morris reached base via a hit-by-pitch, senior center fielder Isaac Davenport drew a walk to load the bases. Junior right fielder Zac Lenns drove in one run with a sacrifice fly, and after a walk to Wilson, Gress brought the Patriots to within 6-5 with a bases-loaded walk.

However, the Cougars would tack on four runs in the bottom half of the seventh and four more in the eighth to make the final score 14-5.

McGee was 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, while Gress drew three walks with a RBI.

CSU's Dustin Averett was 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and four RBIs. Blake Edwards recorded four hits, while Mike McClellan was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

In the second game, CSU scored five times in the bottom of the second and was never seriously threatened.  FMU junior right-hander Randy Morgart (0-1) made his first collegiate start for the Patriots and was tagged with the loss.

Senior third baseman Luke Tollison was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and a double to lead the Patriots.  Senior right fielder Casey Gebhardt was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.  Morris had a two-run single and Davenport, Curry, and senior first baseman David DeWolfe all drove in one run apiece for the Patriots.

Right fielder Jackson Oliver led the 16-hit Cougar attach with three hits, a run scored, and an RBI, while center fielder Brendan Collins was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three driven in.

Bryan Headley (5-1) earned the win after pitching six innings for CSU.