PEMBROKE, NC – Francis Marion University junior outfielders Casey Clauss and JD Crowe both collected three hits apiece and extended long offensive streaks, but an eight-run first inning proved too much for the Patriots to overcome as 30th-ranked UNC Pembroke captured a 21-8 win on Sunday afternoon (April 12) in the rubber game of the weekend's Peach Belt Conference baseball series.

Francis Marion (24-14, 12-10) will return to action on Wednesday with a non-conference road tilt with Claflin University. In honor of Jackie Robinson Day, the contest will be played at Greenville's Fluor Field.

Both Clauss and Crowe finished Sunday with a 3-for-5 stat line that included three runs scored by each player.  Senior Nicholas McGee came off the bench to go 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while junior outfielder Zach Paquette was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Crowe has now reached base safely in each of his past 23 games, while Clauss has turned the trick in 21 straight contests.

Following first-inning singles by Clauss and Crowe and ensuing stolen bases by both, senior catcher Matt Rubino gave the Patriots an early 2-0 advantage with a two-out single to right center.  However, UNCP responded with 16 consecutive runs over the first four frames.

FMU junior right-hander Brandon Cook (1-2) took the loss as he surrendered seven runs (five earned) on three hits in the opening inning.  Altogether seven Patriot hurlers did manage to strike out 10 UNCP batters.

Three Braves registered 4-for-5 days at the plate: third baseman Collins Cuthrell, center fielder Drew Cole, and designated hitter Cody Adkins.  Cuthrell homered in all three games of the series and leads NCAA Division II with 22 on the season.  Both Cuthrell and Adkins drove in four RBIs on Sunday.

UNCP starter Zach Andrews (4-0) was credited with the win as he pitched five innings and allowed five runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts.

Trailing 16-2, FMU plated three runs in the fifth inning on run-scoring singles to left center by senior infielder Chandler Smetana and McGee and an RBI groundout by sophomore catcher William Robbins.

The remaining Patriot runs were the result of an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Zach Callahan, a Braves' error, and a bases-loaded walk to junior third baseman Randy Loew.