FLORENCE, SC – The first three batters in the Francis Marion University order combined for seven hits and four runs batted in to lift the 24th-ranked Patriots to a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Brevard College, Sunday afternoon (Feb. 10) in the 10th game of the third-annual Swamp Fox Baseball Challenge.
The four-day event concluded with Lander University beating Anderson University 12-11 and St. Andrews Presbyterian College beating UNC Pembroke 5-4.
At 7-1, Francis Marion is off to its best start since the 1997 squad opened 8-0 twelve season ago. Brevard falls to 1-2.
FMU shortstop Greg Phelps (2-for-3), center fielder Justin Greene (3-for-3), and catcher Jared Barkdoll (2-for-5) combined for seven of FMU’s 12 hits. Greene drove in two runs, while Phelps and Barkdoll plated one run each. Left fielder Camron Asbill also finished 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Senior right-handed Ed Paul (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings to earn the win, while senior southpaw Zach Farry picked up his fourth save with three hitless frames. FMU hurlers combined to strikeout 11 Brevard batters, while walking only two.
Brevard starter Ryan Toney (0-1) was tagged with the loss. Center fielder Luke Lovelace, designated hitter Seth Corliss, and first baseman Justin Frady all had two hits apiece for the Tornados.
Brevard scored twice in the top of the first off Patriot freshman righty Ricky Kalgstein, who was making his first collegiate start. Frady laced an RBI double down the left field line and Josh Miller followed with a run-scoring single to center.
FMU answered on a RBI single by Barkdoll in the bottom of the first. The Patriots scored single runs in each of the three middle innings, with Asbill driving in Tyler Lehman with the go-ahead run in the fifth. A 340-foot solo home run by Phelps to lead off the eighth inning completed the scoring.
Francis Marion will play host to Pfeiffer University on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
