FLORENCE, SC – Junior third baseman Keon Graves drove in four runs and junior right-hander David Walters pitch six no-hit innings as 20th-ranked Francis Marion University cruised past Pfeiffer University 9-3, Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 12) in non-conference baseball action.

Francis Marion wins for the sixth straight game and the team’s 8-1 record equals the best start in the program’s 36-year history. The 1997 squad also opened 8-1.

Graves, a native of Dillon, drilled a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning and added an RBI ground out in the seventh frame. FMU shortstop Greg Phelps went 3-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 17 games. He scored three times and drove in one run.

Freshman second baseman Tyler Lehman and junior outfielder Camron Asbill also had two hits for the Patriots.

Walters allowed only one base runner (infield error) through the first six innings, while upping his record to 3-0. FMU led 8-0 after six frames.

Freshman righty Adam Sedberry (1-1) was the losing pitcher as he allowed eight runs (five earned) in 5.2 innings. Pfeiffer designated hitter Bryan Braxton was 2-for-4 and drove in two of the Falcons’ runs with singles in the seventh and eighth innings. Hayes Hinson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth frame to drive in the other Pfeiffer run.

FMU will play host to Davis & Elkins College for a three-game series this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. Pfeiffer will entertain Mars Hill College on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.