FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University closed out the Pepsi Cola Pop-Off Baseball Series with a pair of wins on Saturday (Feb. 6) against Claflin University. The Patriots earned a decisive 13-0 win in the first game of the doubleheader, then followed suite with a 7-1 victory in game two at Sparrow Stadium.

Francis Marion, off to its first 5-0 start in 16 seasons, will welcome in Southern Wesleyan University for a trio of games next weekend. First pitch on Friday (Feb. 12) is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the opening pitch of Saturday's (Feb. 13) doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.

The Patriots would bat around against the Panthers in the home half of the first inning in game one, eventually scoring 11 runs to take a commanding lead. The inning featured eight hits, as FMU sent 15 batters to the plate. Senior outfielder Casey Clauss and senior infielder Randy Loew each picked up a pair of hits to lead the offensive barrage. Loew delivered two singles, while driving in a pair of runs.

Senior outfielder JD Crowe continued his streak of reaching base safely with a double in the first inning that plated the first run of the game for the Patriots. Crowe has now reached base safely in 37 consecutive games, after picking up another double in the second game against the Panthers.

The early outburst of offense allowed freshman southpaw Arien Seymour (1-0) to pick up his first collegiate win.  Seymour relieved senior right-hander Brandon Cook with one out in the first and pitched 5.1 scoreless frames of the seven-inning contest.

Senior right-hander Jack Metcalf and junior righty Kyle Majette combined to finish up the shutout and conclude a productive day for the Patriot bullpen.

The Patriots would tack on a run in the third inning to make it 12-0 and then another run in the fifth inning to close out the scoring. Freshman Cole Hinnant and Junior Chase Haas paced the Patriots offense by driving in three runs apiece and Loew finished the game 3-for-4.

Game two started a little differently for the Patriots, as Claflin scored the game's first run in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. The single run would be all that senior right-hander Fernando Pinillos surrendered on the evening. Pinillos worked five innings, while allowing just three hits and striking out seven Claflin batters, en route to his second win of the season.

The Patriots quickly tied up the game in the bottom of the second inning after a bases-loaded walk was issued to junior Zach Callahan. With the game tied 1-1, junior Tad Martin drove a pitch into right-center field that would empty the bases and give FMU a 4-1 lead. The Patriots would tack on another run a couple of batters later to extend the lead to 5-1.

Smooth sailing would be the name of the game for FMU as the pitchers did their part to keep Claflin off of the scoreboard. Junior Chance DuCharme came on in relief of Pinillos in the sixth inning and tossed a pair of scoreless innings to close things out for the Patriots. DuCharme struck out three of the seven batters that he faced.

Clauss rounded out the scoring for FMU in the sixth inning with a single that plated a pair of runs to make it 7-1. He would finish the game 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and sophomore catcher William Robbins went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of doubles.

Francis Marion Univ. 13, Claflin University 0 (Feb 06, 2016 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Claflin University.. 0   00 000 0 -  0  3  1      (0-2)
Francis Marion Univ. (11)01 010 X - 13 11  0      (4-0)
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Pitchers: Claflin University - Dillon Parker; Derek Long(4); Travis Martinez(6) and
Johnny  Stevenson. Francis Marion Univ. - Brandon Cook; Arien Seymour(1); Jack Metcalf(6);
Kyle Majette(7) and Logan Koch; Zack Haralambis.
Win-Arien Seymour(1-0)  Loss-Dillon Parker(0-1)  T-2:15


Francis Marion Univ. 7, Claflin University 1 (Feb 06, 2016 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Claflin University.. 010 000 0 -  1  3  0      (0-3)
Francis Marion Univ. 050 002 0 -  7  8  1      (5-0)
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Pitchers: Claflin University - Aaron Perry; Emanuel Mitchell(6) and Johnny  Stevenson.
Francis Marion Univ. - Fernando Pinillos; Chance DuCharme(6) and William Robbins.
Win-Fernando Pinillos(2-0)  Loss-Aaron Perry(0-1)  T-1:40  A-400
Weather: Overcast 49,Degrees,Wind 4 mph