VALDOSTA, GA – Buoyed by an hitting attack that produced 19 runs on opening day, 25th-ranked Francis Marion University swept a doubleheader from Valdosta State University on Saturday afternoon, winning 10-2 and 9-8.  It is the first time in the 36-year history of the Patriot baseball program that FMU has opened a season with a road doubleheader sweep.

In the opener, Patriot starter David Walter (1-0) gave up just one hit and two runs, only one of which was earned, in six innings of work.  Senior righty Ed Paul gave up just one hit over the final three innings to earn the save.

Freshman outfielder Vince Farfaglia led the FMU offense, which tallied eight hits in the game, with three hits, two runs scored, and a run batted in.  Shortstop Greg Phelps and second baseman Ryan Hypke each drove in two runs.

Will Thompson (0-1) gave up two hits and two earned runs in two and a third innings to take the loss.  Blaine Wilson and Jon Koenigsfeld collected hits for the Blazers (0-2).

Francis Marion opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as it took advantage of a pair of lead-off walks.  A bunt single loaded the bases before Ryan Hewitt hit a sacrifice fly to plate a run. Keon Graves followed with a hit off the glove of Sho Kohata at third to give the Patriots a 2-0 lead.

Valdosta State struck back for a run in the bottom of the third as Koenigsfeld led off with a home run to left, slicing the Blazer deficit to 2-1.  However, the Patriots answered with a pair of two-out runs in the fourth and batted around in the fifth while adding four more runs to go up 8-1 before VSU struck for its second run in the bottom of the fifth.  FMU closed out the scoring with a pair of runs in the sixth.

In the second game, Francis Marion sophomore right-hander Erik Sommerville (1-0) pitched three and a third innings in relief without giving up a run to pick up the win, while southpaw Zach Farry pitched the final two innings to earn the save.  Jared Barkdoll and Preston Shuey finished with three hits each to lead the Patriots, and they combined to drive in five runs.

Josh Maxwell gave up three hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning to fall to 0-1 on the season. Koenigsfeld recorded three hits, while Pierce and Keill had two each as the Blazers outhit FMU 12-11 in game two.

The two squads combined for 12 runs in the first two innings of the second game.

FMU scored an unearned run in the top of the first before VSU answered with two, on a Blaine Wilson home run, in the bottom of the frame. The Patriots strung together four more runs in the top of the second, again capitalizing on a Blazer error. Hypke reached on an error by Kohata at third to open the frame, moved to second on a wild pitch and third on a Bryan Brown single. Camron Asbill's single plated Hypke while Brown came in to score on a Justin Greene RBI single. Barkdoll's base hit drove in Asbill and Greene followed by scoring on a Shuey base hit for a 5-2 Patriot lead.

However, Valdosta State responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 7-5 advantage.

The Patriots regained the lead with three runs in the fourth and added another in the fifth to go up 9-7 before VSU struck back with a single run in the bottom of the sixth.

The two teams conclude the three-game series Sunday with a 1 p.m. game.

Francis Marion 10, Valdosta State 2 (Feb 02, 2008 at Valdosta, Ga.)
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Francis Marion...... 200 242 000  - 10  8  2   (1-0)
Valdosta State...... 001 010 000  -  2  2  5    (0-1)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Walters; Paul (7). Valdosta State - W. Thompson; A. Harmych (3); J. Forbus (5); W. West (5); L. Gray (7).
Win-Walters (1-0)  Save-Paul (1)  Loss-W. Thompson (0-1)  T-3:02  A-381
HR VSU - Koenigsfeld (1).
Game: 1

Francis Marion 9, Valdosta State 8 (Feb 02, 2008 at Valdosta, Ga.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 140 310 0 -  9 11  0      (2-0)
Valdosta State...... 250 001 0 -  8 12  3      (0-2)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Deering; Sommerville (2); Farry (6). Valdosta State - T. Tripp; J. Gainey (2); J. Maxwell (4); R. Crum (4); S. Turner (7).
Win-Sommerville (1-0)  Save-Farry (1)  Loss-J. Maxwell (0-1)  T-2:16  A-201
HR VSU - B. Wilson (1).
Game: 2