FLORENCE, SC – Junior left-hander Matt Kelley tossed a complete-game six-hitter as Francis Marion University claimed a 7-4 game-one win over 18th-ranked Flagler College, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 28) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.  However, the Patriot bullpen was unable to hold a five-run lead in game two as the Saints rallied for a 12-9 victory in 10 innings and a split of the twinbill.

With the game-two loss, Francis Marion (9-4, 3-1) saw its five-game winning streak snapped and the Patriots fell from the ranks of the unbeaten in PBC play.  Flagler, which saw a nine-game winning streak ended in the opener, moves to 13-2 and 7-1.

The two squads will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. on Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium.

In game one, Kelley (3-1) fanned eight and walked two while recording the first complete game-effort for a Patriot hurler in 2015.

FMU built a 4-0 advantage after four frames, including a solo homer by senior second baseman Matt Rubino in the second inning.  After Flagler trimmed the margin with two runs in the top of the sixth, Francis Marion answered with a single tally in its half of the frame on an RBI single by senior catcher Nicholas McGee.

The Patriots added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh – a run-scoring single by junior left fielder J.D. Crowe and a sacrifice fly from Rubino – to take a 7-4 lead.  The Saints added single runs in the eighth and ninth innings before Kelley fanned pinch hitter Shawn Hendon to end the game.

Both McGee and junior designated hitter Ryan Miller both collected two hits, while McGee and Rubino both drove in two runs apiece.

Flagler righty Danny Brown (3-1) suffered his first loss in the opener as he surrendered seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in 6.1 innings.  Second baseman Andrew Brodbeck went 2-for-4, including a two-run homer down the right field line in the sixth.

In the second contest, Francis Marion erased an early 2-0 Flagler advantage by scoring three times in the second and three times in the fourth.  The Patriot lead would swell to 8-3 after six frames as senior righty Jordy Santak was sharp on the mound.

As Santak tired in the sixth, five Patriot relievers were unable to hold the lead as Flagler scored nine straight runs.  The tying run scored on a bases-loaded walk to Hendon with two outs in the top of the ninth.

In the top of the 10th, Flagler plated four runs on three hits and four walks.  Center fielder Lorenzo Butler rapped out a two-run single to right in the frame.  FMU responded by loading the bases with one out in the bottom half, but could only score one run on a sacrifice fly by Miller.

Flagler sophomore right-hander MacLain Larson (1-0) earned the win by pitching the final two innings.  FMU junior Jeremiah Freeman (1-1) was tagged with the loss.

Game two saw FMU junior center fielder Casey Clauss go 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and senior first baseman Conner Wessel was 3-for-6.  Three other Patriots collected two hits apiece: junior third baseman Randy Loew (2-for-6), Crowe (2-for-5), and Rubino (2-for-6).  Loew extended his season-long hitting streak to 13 games, while Wessel's hitting streak reaches 12 games and Crowe's 10 games.

Flagler's Butler drove in four runs with a 2-for-5 effort, while four other Saints picked up two hits: designated hitter Kolin McMillen (2-for-5), shortstop Nick Oberg (2-for-5), left fielder Dylan Jones (2-for-5), and right fielder Bryce Evans (2-for-4).

Francis Marion Univ. 7, #18 Flagler College 4 (Feb 28, 2015 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Flagler College.....     000 002 011  -  4  6  1      (12-2, 6-1 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 011 201 20X  -  7 11  0      (9-3, 3-0 PBC)
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Pitchers: Flagler College - Danny Brown; Kyle Schackne(7) and Igor Baez. Francis Marion Univ. -
Matt Kelley and Nicholas McGee.
Win-Matt Kelley(3-1)  Loss-Danny Brown(3-1)  T-2:16  A-0
HR FLG - Andrew Brodbeck (3).
HR FMU - Matt Rubino (1).
Weather: Mostly Sunny,43,Winds E @ 12

#18 Flagler College 12, Francis Marion Univ. 9 (Feb 28, 2015 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Flagler College..... 110 010 131 4 - 12 13  2      (13-2, 7-1 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 033 020 000 1 -  9 15  0      (9-4, 3-1 PBC)
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Pitchers: Flagler College - Mike O'Reilly; Michael Hanke(3); Nick Martinez(6); MacLain Larson(9)
and Jabe Molinaro; Igor Baez. Francis Marion Univ. - Jordy Santak; Jimmy Lindberg(7);
Ty Simpson(8); Jeremiah Freeman(9); Ryan Manore(10); Shuler Ward(10) and William Robbins.
Win-MacLain Larson(1-0)  Loss-Jeremiah Freeman(1-1)  T-3:48  A-707
Weather: Partly Cloudy,50,Winds NNE @12
Lindberg faced 3 batters in the 8th.