FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University baseball coach Art Inabinet has announced that outfielder Daniel “Bucky” Wells of Surfside Beach and right-handed pitcher Zane Petty of Myrtle Beach, both products of Socastee High School, will join the Patriot baseball squad this fall. Wells is transferring from Spartanburg Methodist College, while Petty is moving from Coastal Carolina University.

Wells, 6-0 195-pounds, is the second Spartanburg Methodist product to recently join the Patriots, following infielder Keon Graves’ decision two weeks ago. The Pioneers were 54-14 this past spring and placed third at the 2007 NJCAA World Series.

This past season, Wells batted .226 with seven doubles, one home run, and 21 runs batted in.

He is a former All-State performer at Socastee for coach John Daurity. The switch-hitter originally signed with Coastal Carolina, but played both the 2006 and 2007 seasons at Spartanburg Methodist.

Petty, 6-0 190-pounds, made three appearances with the Chanticleers in 2006 with an 0-1 mark and nine strikeouts in 7.1 innings and was red-shirted this past season. He will have three years of eligibility at FMU.

Petty was a three-time All-Region pick at Socastee and left as the school’s all-time leader in strikeouts. He is currently pitching for the Wilmington Sharks in the Coastal Plain League.

“We are excited to have Bucky coming to FMU,” said Inabinet. “He will have the opportunity to play in right field, and he possesses good tools to run, throw, and hit.   His stats, recorded in somewhat limited playing time, belie his talents.

Zane will have the chance to make an immediate impact and pitch on the weekends for us in 2008. He is very much in the mold of (former FMU All-American) Dylan Owen. He has a similar build, a fastball in the upper 80’s/lower 90’s, and a good breaking pitch.”

Francis Marion finished the 2007 campaign with a 36-18 mark, the second-most wins in school history. The Patriots lose five seniors from that squad.

Wells and Petty become the 13th and 14th newcomers slated to join the 2008 FMU roster.