CENTRAL, S.C. – Francis Marion University held a six-run advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but Southern Wesleyan University rallied for nine runs in that frame and went on to claim a 13-10 win over the Patriots, Friday afternoon (Feb. 13) in non-conference baseball action.

The two squads will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.  FMU falls to 4-3, while the Warriors even their mark at 3-3.

FMU junior left fielder JD Crowe and sophomore third baseman Zach Callahan led a 15-hit Patriot attack.  Crowe was 3-for-5 with a run scored, a homer, and three runs batted in, while Callahan was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Junior shortstop Randy Loew (2-for-2, 2 RBIs), senior first baseman Conner Wessel (2-for-4, 1 RBI), and senior second baseman Matt Rubino (2-for-5) also produced multi-hit games.

Senior southpaw Cody Dix , the third of five Patriot hurlers, took was the loss and saw his season record dip to 1-1.  FMU starter Matt Kelley pitched the first six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts.

Trailing 3-2, Francis Marion plated seven runs in the fourth frame to take a 9-3 lead.  The Warriors gave up four unearned runs in the inning on three errors. FMU collected six hits in the inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Crowe and a two-run double by Callahan.

The Warriors sent 13 to the plate in the seventh, scoring nine runs on five hits, three walks and a hit batter. A wild pitch allowed the go-ahead run to score and Josh Shimp knocked in the final two runs with a single up the middle.

Jordan Finster pitched the final two innings allowing just one hit and striking out two to pick up his first save of the season. Roth Matthews, the third Southern Wesleyan pitcher, picked up his first career win with a two-inning relief appearance.

SWU's Shimp finished the day with three hits and four RBIs.