YOUNG HARRIS, GA – Francis Marion University overcame a four-run deficit with six unanswered tallies to defeat Young Harris College by a 9-7 count on Sunday (March 22) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action. 

FMU sweeps the three-game series against the Mountain Lions and boosts its record to 17-9 overall and 8-5 in PBC competition, good for fourth place.  YHC drops to 10-17 overall and 7-11 in the league.

The Patriots will return home for a three-game weekend series against PBC foe Lander University, with game one scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.

Francis Marion benefited from two Mountain Lion errors in the top of the third to score the tilt's first two runs.  With two outs, junior left fielder J.D. Crowe singled through the left side to plate junior shortstop Zach Callahan, who reached on a walk, and junior right fielder Zac Lenns, who had reached on a fielder's choice play.

YHC answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third as junior catcher Spencer Thomas delivered a two-run double down the left field line to tie the game at 2-2.  Lenns snatched the lead away from the claws of the Mountain Lions when his fourth-inning RBI double, again coming with two outs, gave the Patriots the 3-2 edge.

But Young Harris roared back in the bottom of the fourth with a five-run effort, highlighted by back-to-back home runs, a two-run round-tripper down the right field line by junior left fielder Jimmy Pinakidis and a solo shot to right center by sophomore center fielder Nick Sexton.

Down 7-3 in the top of the fifth, the torrid FMU bats mounted yet another comeback.  Run-scoring hits from juniors Cole Morris, Ryan Miller and Loew, plus an RBI sacrifice fly from junior first baseman Conner Wessel, helped the Patriots knot the game at 7-7.

Francis Marion tallied its final runs in the sixth on a two-run bash by Wessel, his second home run of the season. 

Rubino went 3-for-4 to boost his conference-leading average to .481 and increased his hitting streak to 16 games. Clauss (11 games) and Loew (10 games) also extended their streaks in Sunday's win.  Both Loew and Lenns were 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Junior righty Ty Simpson (1-0) surrendered just two runs in 5.2 innings to win his first game on the mound as a Patriot, and YHC southpaw Justin Cooper (3-3) was struck with the loss.

Francis Marion 9, Young Harris 7 (Mar 22, 2015 at Young Harris, Ga.)
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Francis Marion...... 002 142 000  -  9 12  2      (17-9, 8-5 PBC)
Young Harris........ 002 500 000  -  7 13  3      (10-17, 7-11 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Jimmy Lindberg; Ty Simpson(4) and Matt Rubino. Young Harris -
Justin Cooper; Cody Ching(7); Nick Sexton(8) and Spencer Thomas.
Win-Ty Simpson(1-0)  Loss-Justin Cooper(3-3)  T-2:33  A-124
HR FMU - Conner Wessel (1).
HR YHC - Nick Sexton (2); Jimmy Pinakidis (2).
Weather: Cloudy, 56F (56F), SE 3