Orangeburg, S.C. (April 3, 2014) – Senior shortstop Michael Wilson tallied six RBIs on three hits to lead Francis Marion University to a 15-1 non-conference victory over Claflin University on Thursday night in Orangeburg, S.C.

The Patriots improve to 18-16 overall and will return to Peach Belt Conference play this weekend when they travel to face the University of Montevallo for a three-game series starting on Saturday.

Senior righty Austin Cox (3-1) took home the victory after not allowing a run on five hits and striking out four batters. Claflin (16-16) pitcher Anthony Ford (2-4) absorbed the loss after giving up 10 earned runs on 14 hits.

Wilson was 3-for-5 at the plate while scoring a run. Junior outfielder Zac Lenns also recorded three hits and tacked on an RBI. Senior first baseman David DeWolfe and senior outfielder Isaac Davenport both had two base knocks and an RBI, while senior third baseman Luke Tollison picked up two hits and scored two runs.

Davenport scored the first run of the game on an RBI triple by Lenns in the top of the first inning. Wilson hit a sacrifice fly to score Lenns to give FMU a 2-0 lead after one frame. Wilson also hit a three-run homer in the third inning, and the Patriots led 6-0 after three complete innings.

FMU added five runs in the top of the seventh inning. Junior catcher Nicholas McGee and Davenport both had RBI singles in the frame, while Wilson hit an RBI double. DeWolfe also recorded an RBI double in the eighth as Francis Marion rolled to the 14-run victory.

Sixto Guerrero led Claflin with three hits in four trips to the plate and a run scored. Wendell Ferguson was 2-for-4, while Johnny Stevenson had a hit and an RBI.

Francis Marion 15, Claflin University 1 (Apr 03, 2014 at Orangeburg, SC)
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Francis Marion...... 204 001 530  - 15 18  2      (18-16)
Claflin University..  000 000 100  -  1  8  2      (16-16)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Austin Cox; Gordon Owens(4); Randy Morgart(9); Jeremy Hatfield(9)
and Nicholas McGee; Devin Walker. Claflin University - Anthony Ford; Dalton Tresvant(7);
Demitrius Bryant(8) and Johnny Stevenson.
Win-Austin Cox(3-1)  Loss-Anthony Ford(2-4)  T-3:00  A-85
HR FMU - Michael Wilson (4).
Weather: Sunny
Morgart faced 2 batters in the 9th.