PEMBROKE, NC – Despite a second-straight three-hit game by senior shortstop Zach Callahan, Francis Marion University could not overcome an early 2-0 deficit and the Patriots lost a 6-1 decision to UNC Pembroke, Friday evening (April 7) in the opening game of a three-game Peach Belt Conference baseball series.

FMU (26-12) and the Braves (24-11) will play game two of the series on Saturday at 3 p.m.  With the win, UNCP draws even alongside the Patriots in the PBC standings with identical 8-8 marks.

FMU catcher Logan Koch registered a seventh-inning single to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and 21 of his last 22.  Junior outfielder Reese Cooley did draw a walk to run his streak of safely reaching base to 20 straight contests.

UNCP scored two runs in the bottom of third, with one of the tallies being unearned.  FMU trimmed the margin in half in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI-single to center by Callahan.

However, the Braves scored three times in the sixth, highlighted by a two-out, two-run triple by center fielder Roberto Rivera.  An RBI double by first baseman Ethan Baucom accounted for the final Braves' run in the seventh.

Francis Marion left 11 runners on base.

FMU senior right-hander Chance DuCharme (3-3) was the losing pitcher as he surrendered five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 5.2 innings of work.  He fanned five, but issued four walks.

UNCP righty starter Anthony Burke went seven innings to earn the win.  He allowed one unearned run on six hits with four strikeouts.  Reliever Hank Simpson retired all six Patriots he faced, including four by strike out, to close out the game.

Baucom, Rivera, and third baseman drew Beaver all registered two hits for UNC Pembroke.