FLORENCE, SC – Junior second baseman Cole Morris rapped out two hits, reached base safely five times, and drove in three runs to back the strong pitching of junior right-hander Fernando Pinillos as Francis Marion University defeated Claflin University 10-2, Tuesday night (April 7) in non-conference college baseball action.

Francis Marion (23-12) returns to Peach Belt Conference action this weekend with a three-game series at UNC Pembroke beginning with a single game on Friday at 6 p.m.

Ranked 11th nationally in scoring, FMU scored in double figures for the 15th time this season.

WATCH REPLAY OF GAME

Morris finished 2-for-3 and broke open a close game with a three-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Junior designated hitter Ryan Miller went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two drive in, while junior third baseman Randy Loew was 2-for-3 and scored twice.

Pinillos (3-0) pitched six shutout innings, allowing only five hits with three strikeouts and three walks.  Four Patriot hurlers combined to fan nine Claflin hitters.

Claflin drops to 15-24 and sophomore southpaw Wendell Ferguson (0-4) was tagged with the loss.  Designated hitter Jalen Thompson was the lone Panther with multiple hits and third baseman Rashad Bivens drove in the two Claflin runs with a two-run double down the right line in the top of the eighth.

Francis Marion took a 1-0 advantage in the second when senior catcher Matt Rubino walked, stole second base, and came around to score on a bad-hop single by senior right fielder Zac Lenns. Morris doubled the margin in the fifth when he walked with two outs, moved to third on a single by junior left fielder JD Crowe, and scored on a wild pitch.  Crowe extended his hitting streak to eight games and has now reached base safely in the past 20 contests.

Morris' three-run double into the left field corner highlighted a four-run sixth inning that expanded the margin to 6-0.  Sophomore shortstop Zach Callahan drove in the other run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

FMU plated four insurance runs in the seventh with Miller doubling home two runs.  Miller then scored the third run on a Panther error and senior first baseman Conner Wessel accounted for the final tally with a bases-loaded walk.

Trailing 10-0, Claflin broke-up the shutout with its two runs in the eighth.

Francis Marion Univ. 10, Claflin University 2 (Apr 07, 2015 at Florence, SC)
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Claflin University..    000 000 020  -  2  6  2      (15-24)
Francis Marion Univ. 010 014 40X  - 10 10  1      (23-12)
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Pitchers: Claflin University - Wendell Ferguson; Samuel Kitchen(6); Emanuel Mitchell(6);
Travis Martinez(7) and Johnny  Stevenson. Francis Marion Univ. - Fernando Pinillos;
Brandon Cook(7); Jeremiah Freeman(8); Cody Dix(9) and Matt Rubino.
Win-Fernando Pinillos(3-0)  Loss-Wendell Ferguson(0-4)  T-2:45  A-775
Weather: Cloudy,Humid,77,Winds WSW @ 6
S. Kitchen faced 4 batters in the 6th.
Pinillos faced 1 batter in the 7th.

                                                                             Cole Morris