MONTEVALLO, AL– The Francis Marion University bullpen tossed 6.2 scoreless innings, but the 17th-ranked Patriots dropped a 3-0 decision to the University of Montevallo, Sunday afternoon (March 6) in Peach Belt Conference action.

The Patriots (13-6, 2-4) will head home to host Virginia State University on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium. FMU will then host a PBC weekend series with USC Aiken, starting on Friday at 6 p.m.

FMU senior right fielder JD Crowe extended his streak of safely reaching base to 51 games with a two-out single to center field in the top of the first inning. He would also add a one-out single in the sixth inning, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with one walk.

Junior third baseman Tad Martin went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. Freshman right-hander Cole Hinnant (1-1) took the loss for FMU. Hinnant allowed three runs on five hits while walking none.

With a pair of runners on base in the second inning, Falcon senior center fielder Thomas Bradey drove a ball over the wall in right-center to give Montevallo a 3-0 lead. The Patriots bullpen would take over for Hinnant with one out in the inning and hold the Falcons off of the scoreboard the rest of the way.

First out of the Patriots bullpen would be senior righty Brandon Cook, who tossed 2.1 innings. He would go on to strike out two batters, while allowing just two hits. Junior righty Chance DuCharme would mirror Cook, firing two scoreless innings of his own. He went on to strike out a pair of batters, while walking one. Junior right-hander Jacob Shumate threw 2.1 scoreless frames allowing just two hits.

Montevallo would receive a complete-game shutout from senior right-hander Cody Hughes (2-0). He scattered six hits over nine innings, walking one batter and striking out eight. Outside of the three-run home run from Bradey, junior designated hitter Dominic Deville went 3-for-4 at the dish with a double and a run scored.

FMU would try to plate a run in the top half of the sixth inning after a pair of one-out singles from Crowe and junior second baseman Antonio Pino. A fielder's choice grounder would move Pino over to third base, but a fly-ball to center field would end the inning, stranding a pair of runners on base.

Pino and sophomore shortstop Brooks Kennedy each finished the game 1-for-4 at the plate.