FLORENCE, S.C. – Eighteenth-ranked Francis Marion University swept a Peach Belt Conference baseball doubleheader from Lander University on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 26), winning 10-1 and 3-2 in eight innings. The two teams will complete their three-game series with a single game on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.
GAME ONE
Freshman third baseman Taylor Norfleet collected two hits and drove in four runs to lead FMU to a 10-1 win over Lander in the opening game.
FMU junior right fielder Nick Stewart tied a school-record with three doubles, while scoring twice and driving in two runs. Second baseman Omar Quiles also drove in two runs for the Patriots.
FMU built a 7-0 lead after four innings, while handing Lander starter Chris Munn (3-1) his first loss of 2006. FMU sophomore right-hander Dylan Owen ran his record to 3-0 by allowing only five hits and one run in seven innings.
Lander leadoff batter Radley Raven went two-for-four, while third baseman Malcolm McCleod drove home the lone Bearcat run with an RBI-ground out in the sixth inning.
GAME TWO
Pinch-runner Brandon McClure scored on a two-out passed ball in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Francis Marion University a 3-2 come-from-behind win in the second game.
The Patriots (10-4, 2-0) trailed 2-1 entering the seventh and last inning, but forced extra innings when freshman Taylor Norfleet singled home Nick Stewart with one out. Again a passed ball was involved in the scoring. Stewart struck out to start the seventh, but reached base on a passed ball. He was then sacrificed to second base, where Norfleet drove him home to tie the game at 2-2.
Lander (7-5, 0-2) took a 1-0 lead on an RBI-single by catcher Adam Hutchins in the top of the fourth inning. FMU knotted the score in the bottom of the frame with an unearned run that scored when Lander starter Derek Wilson picked up a sacrifice bunt attempt by Stewart and threw the ball into right field.
Lander went up 2-1 when Jesse Barbaro doubled home Radley Raven with one out in the sixth inning.
Wilson (2-1) was the tough-luck loser for Lander, while Patriot junior lefty Lee Tabor (3-0) was the winner. Both pitchers tossed complete games, with Tabor fanning eight and allowing only four hits.
