ORANGEBURG, SC – Junior third baseman Todd Mattox registered five hits and drove in three runs while four Francis Marion University pitchers combined to hurl 17 scoreless innings as the Patriots swept a Peach Belt Conference road doubleheader from Claflin University, winning 10-0 and 3-0 on Saturday afternoon (March 7) in baseball action.

Francis Marion evens both its overall (9-9) and conference mark (5-5) with the two wins.  The squads will play the final game of the weekend series on Sunday at 2 p.m. on Historic Mirmow Field.

Senior southpaw Josh Bobrowski (2-3), the reigning PBC Pitcher of the Week, pitched one-hit ball for his seven innings while striking out 12 Panthers. Chad Wallen pitched a scoreless inning to complete the 8-inning shutout due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Mattox went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while senior first baseman Leniel Gonzalez, senior shortstop Grayson Cottingham, junior designated hitter Darius Nobles, and sophomore second baseman Tanner Wakefield all had two hits.

FMU plated three first-inning runs on an RBI hit by Nobles, an outfielder error, and a balk.  An RBI single by Gonzalez in the fourth upped the margin to 4-0.  A run-scoring double by Nobles in the sixth followed by a two-run double by Mattox increased the lead to 7-0.  Freshman outfielder Jon-Mitchell Carter drilled a 3-run triple in the eighth to round out the scoring.

Chris McKenzie Jr. (0-1) was the game-one loser.

FMU junior lefty Westin Rogers (2-2) came within two outs of a complete-game shutout in game two.  He allowed only five hits and fanned four.  Senior right-hander Christian Umphlett came on to record the final two outs and earn his third save of 2020.

Both Gonzalez and Mattox had two hits in game two.

Sophomore right fielder Will Hardee led off the top of the first with a single and went to third on a double by Gonzalez before scoring on a wild pitch.  Mattox then plated Gonzalez with a sacrifice fly.

Mattox doubled in the fourth and came home on an RBI fielder's choice grounder by sophomore catcher Trystan Freeman to accounted for the other Patriot run.

Makai Holloway (1-5) did throw a complete game in the second contest, allowing only six hits in a losing effort.

Francis Marion 10, Claflin 0 (Mar. 7, 2020 at Orangeburg, S.C.) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 300 103 03 - 10 15  0      (8-9, 4-5-0 PBC)
Claflin.............        000 000 00 -  0  2  1      (4-11, 0-9-0 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Josh Bobrowski; Chad Wallen(8) and Daulton Dabbs. Claflin -
C. McKenzie; T. Hubbard(6); S. Thomas(8) and G. Rentas; J. McCray.
Win-Josh Bobrowski(2-3)  Loss-C. McKenzie(0-1)  T-2:35  A-150
Weather: Cold/Windy

Francis Marion 3, Claflin 0 (Mar. 7, 2020 at Orangeburg, S.C.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 200 100 000  -  3  6  0      (9-9, 5-5-0 PBC)
Claflin.............        000 000 000  -  0  5  1      (4-12, 0-10-0 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Weston Rogers; Christian Umphlett(9) and Trystan Freeman;
Daulton Dabbs. Claflin - M. Holloway and J. McCray.
Win-Weston Rogers(2-2)  Save-Christian Umphlett(3)  Loss-M. Holloway(1-5)  T-2:10  A-170
Weather: cold/chilly