FLORENCE, SC – Junior shortstop Antonio Pino's 3-for-5 performance led a 15-hit attack by 15th-ranked Francis Marion University as the Patriots defeated the College of Saint Rose 16-2, Friday afternoon (Feb. 26) in collegiate baseball action.

Francis Marion improves to 11-2, while Saint Rose falls to 0-4.  In Friday's opening game, 14th-ranked Millersville University defeated Saint Rose 4-2.

On Saturday, Millersville and Saint Rose will play at 11 a.m., followed by Francis Marion and Saint Rose against at 2 p.m.  FMU and Millersville will conclude the weekend's play with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

FMU struck early with three runs in the bottom of the first, one in the second, and eight runs in the third to take a 12-0 advantage.

Senior right-hander Brandon Cook (1-0) pitched six scoreless frames and allowed only two hits with six strikeouts.  Three Patriot relievers pitched an inning each to finish the game.

FMU senior right fielder JD Crowe started the scoring with an RBI single in the first to extend his streak of safely reaching base to 45 games. 

In addition to his hits, Pino scored three times and drove in two runs.  Three Patriots rapped out two hits apiece: second baseman Cole Morris (2-for-4), junior first baseman Zach Callahan (2-for-2), and senior center fielder Shuler Ward (2-for-5).  Ward also drove in three runs, Callahan had two RBIs, and Morris registered a double and one RBI.  Morris had two hits in the Patriots' eight-run third.

Saint Rose starter Phillip Zdanowski (0-1) was tagged with the loss in his second start of 2016.  Golden Knight pitchers issued 11 walks to Patriot batters.