FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University baseball coach Art Inabinet has announced the signing of Dusty Floyd of Mullins to a national letter of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots in 2004.

Floyd, a 6-2 190-pound right-hander pitcher, is a graduate of Mullins High School, where he played for coach Hal Lambert.  He is the son of former Francis Marion basketball standout Allen Floyd, a member of the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame.

This past season, Floyd batted .400 with a slugging percentage of .460 and an on-base percentage of .474.  On the mound, he compiled a 4.20 earned run average while fanning 37 of 121 batters faced. He earned All-Region honors, received the South Carolina High School Sports Report’s All State/Senior-Leadership Award, and was selected his team’s most valuable player.  He was a five-year starter for the Auctioneers.

Off the field, he earned his school’s “Best of the Best” senior award and was a participant in Palmetto Boys State.

He was also an All-Region performer on the basketball court where he ranked among the top 10 in the state in three-point shooting.

During this past summer’s American Legion (baseball) season, he posted a 1-2 mark with one save and a 3.70 ERA.  He struck out 37 batters in only 30.1 innings.

“Dusty comes from a good Patriot pedigree,” said Inabinet.  “He is a tall rangy pitcher with a good fastball (84-85 mph) and a nice breaking ball.  He is very young (18 years old) and has a lot of potential.   His strength and stamina should increase when he begins working in our conditioning program.  He has a bright future.”

Inabinet has now inked nine newcomers to join the Patriot program for 2004.

Francis Marion finished last season with a 30-20 record, placed third during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, and earned an invitation to the NCAA Division II national tournament, where the Patriots finished third at the South Atlantic Regional.

 #7/7-17-03