AIKEN, SC – Junior designated hitter Conner Durden smacked a two-run homer and three USC Aiken pitchers combined to limit Francis Marion University to three singles as the Pacers claimed a 4-1 win, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 24) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.

Francis Marion (7-8, 3-5) and USCA (8-4, 2-0) will play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at noon.  The Patriots' next home game will be Friday, March 2, against Limestone College at 6 p.m.

FMU junior right-hander Isaac Rodgers (2-2) pitched six innings and allowed the four runs (3 earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts.  Righties Will Taks and Austin Roseberry combined to blank the Pacers over the final two frames.

The Pacers scratched across an unearned run in the second and doubled the margin to 2-0 in the fifth on a two-out RBI-single to left by Chandler Rogers.  Durden's two-run shot over the right field fence came in the sixth and upped the margin to 4-0.

FMU's tally came in the seventh when senior catcher William Robbins singled to right and advanced to second when junior shortstop CJ Mackinson was hit by a pitch. Robbins went to third on a fielder's choice grounder and came home on a wild pitch.

Junior second baseman Brody Thomasson and sophomore center fielder Patrick Jackson accounted for the other two FMU hits.

USCA starter Mitch Spence (1-1) earned the win as he allowed the one run on three hits in seven innings, while fanning 10.  Zach Lang was credited with his first save after tossing a perfect 1-2-3 ninth. 

USC Aiken 4, Francis Marion 1 (Feb 24, 2018 at Aiken, S.C.)
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Francis Marion...... 000 000 100  -  1  3  2      (7-8, 3-5 PBC)
USC Aiken...........  010 012 00X  -  4  9  1      (8-4, 2-0 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Isaac Rodgers; Will Taks(7); Austin Roseberry(7) and William Robbins
. USC Aiken - Spence; Morlan(8); Lang(9) and Schwarzer.
Win-Spence(1-1)  Save-Lang(1)  Loss-Isaac Rodgers(2-2)  T-2:45  A-182
HR USCA - Durden.