FLORENCE, SC – Five University of Montevallo pitchers combined to limit Francis Marion University bats to a total of 10 hits and two runs as the Falcons swept a Peach Belt Conference twinbill from the Patriots, winning 3-0 and 8-2, Saturday afternoon (March 7) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.

Francis Marion drops to 10-6 overall and 3-3 in the Peach Belt, while Montevallo improves to 10-6 and 6-2.  The two squads will conclude their three-game series on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m. on FMU's Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium.

The game-one opener saw the two squads combine for only six hits.

FMU junior southpaw Matt Kelley (3-2) was the hard-luck loser in game one.  He allowed only four hits, while fanning 12 in a seven-inning stint.

The Falcons took a 1-0 advantage in the fourth inning when Chad Wagner singled with one out, advanced to second on a ground out off the pitcher's leg, took third on a passed ball, and scored on an RBI single to left by catcher Jacob Whiting.

Montevallo added a pair of tallies in the fifth frame on a run-scoring hit by outfielder Matthew Haskins and an RBI fielder's choice grounder by designated hitter Vinny Rodriguez.

Junior right-hander Cody Hughes (2-2) tossed seven shutout innings to earn the victory, while Aron McRee picked up his third save of 2015 by registering the final three outs.  Three Falcon hurlers combined on the two-hitter with eight total strikeouts.

The two Patriot hits were by senior second baseman Matt Rubino and junior designated hitter Ryan Miller.  Junior shortstop Ryan Loew saw his season-long 14-game hitting streak snapped, while senior first baseman Conner Wessel and junior left fielder J.D. Crowe also had double-figure streaks ended.

In game two, FMU trailed 3-0 after three frames.  The Patriots plated a single run in the fourth when Rubino walked and later scored on a two-out error.  FMU drew to within 3-2 when Crowe singled to lead off the last of the sixth and then scored on Wessel's double to right center.  However, Wessel was later stranded at third base.

Montevallo tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh and two more later in the ninth.

FMU senior right-hander Jordy Santak (1-1) took the loss as he surrendered three runs (two earned) on five hits in 5.1 innings or work.

Crowe finished the second game 3-for-4, while Wessel was 2-for-4.  Miller had one hit in each game to extend his hitting streak to nine games.

Junior righty Landon Smith (1-2) picked up the win with six effective innings, while Trent Higginbotham pitched three scoreless innings for his first save of 2015.

Haskins was 4-for-6 in game two with two runs scored and two driven in.