Greenwood, S.C. (March 9, 2014) – The Francis Marion University baseball team rallied from a 7-2 deficit to upset No. 4 Lander University 10-7 in the first game of a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader in Greenwood S.C. The Bearcats answered with a comeback of their own to win the second game 7-5.

            FMU now sees its record sit at 10-9 overall and 3-6 in PBC play. The Patriots will return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 11 when they travel to Wilson, N.C., for a non-conference matchup with Barton College. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

            Senior outfielder Dalton Gress led the Patriots at the plate in the first contest with three hits, two runs batted in, and a run scored. Junior outfielder Zac Lenns was 3-for-6 with a pair of RBIs, while junior catcher Nick McGee was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a RBI.

            Sophomore righty John Rossi (1-0) recorded the win on the mound after only tallying one inning of work in relief, but recording two strikeouts. Brandon White (1-1) took the loss for Lander (19-4, 9-4) while throwing 1.2 innings of relief with five runs on five hits.

            The Bearcats held a lead of 7-2 after six innings of play. Lenns singled home senior infielder David DeWolfe to put the Patriots on the board in the fifth inning. DeWolfe gave FMU its second run of the game on an RBI single that scored Gress in the sixth inning.

            The Patriots began their comeback in the seventh inning when senior shortstop Michael Wilson singled home McGee, who doubled to start the inning. In the next at bat, senior outfielder Marquis Curry drew a walk to load the bases. Gress reached on a fielder's choice that scored Lenns. Senior third baseman Luke Tollison cut the Bearcat lead to 7-5 on an RBI single that scored Wilson.

            The Patriots would take the lead in the in the top of the eighth inning with a second-straight three-run frame. McGee kicked off the inning with his second double of the day, and senior outfielder Isaac Davenport put runners on the corners with a single. McGee would score on a single by Lenns.

            Both Lenns and Davenport moved up a base on a wild pitch, and the Patriots caught a break when the Lander catcher threw the ball away on a dropped third strike by Curry that scored Lenns. Gress put the Patriots ahead by a run on a single to right field in the next at-bat.

            Francis Marion added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning. Sophomore infielder Cole Morris had an RBI double that scored Tollison, and McGee singled home Morris who stole third base earlier in the at-bat. Junior right-hander Jeremy Hatfield tallied his third save of the season when he worked around a walk and a hit to clinch the upset victory for the Patriots.

            In the second game, FMU held a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning, but Lander scored five runs in the bottom of frame to steal a 7-5 victory. Hatfield (0-1) took the loss on the mound without recording an out, and giving up three earned runs and two walks. The Bearcats' Tyler Broome (1-0) picked up the win.

            Curry was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Lenns recorded an RBI on a hit, while McGee was 1-for-3 with a run and a walk.

            Lander held a 2-0 lead through five innings of play. In the top half of the sixth inning, Curry drew a walk, and Gress advanced to second base via an error. Curry moved to third base on the play, and scored on a wild pitch. Gress moved up to third on the play, and also scored on another wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2.

            FMU took the lead in the seventh inning on an RBI double by Lenns that scored McGee, who singled to start the inning. Lenns would move to third on a wild pitch, and Wilson drew a walk. Curry scored Lenns on a single to right field, and Wilson advanced to third. Wilson would put the Patriots up 5-2 when he stole home.

            The Bearcats loaded the bases in the eighth inning, and scored their third run when Graham Ramos what hit by a pitch thrown by Hatfield. The big blow of the game came in the next at-bat when Colby Painter hit a grand slam that put Lander up 7-5.

            The Patriots brought the tying-run to the plate, but two strikeouts by Gress and Curry ended the game. FMU starter Jordy Santak went seven and two third innings on the mound and threw four strikeouts.

            Painter led the Bearcats with a 1-for-3 effort at the plate with four RBI on the grand slam. Patrick Grady was 2-for-4 with a RBI.