FLORENCE, SC – Pinch runner Josh Smith scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to cap a game-long Francis Marion University rally and lifted the 27th-ranked Patriots to a 9-8 win over North Georgia College & State University, Sunday afternoon (March 30).

The two teams entered the three-game weekend series tied for fourth place in the Peach Belt standings, but after three dramatic wins, Francis Marion ups its overall mark to 25-13 overall and its conference record to 11-7.  North Georgia falls to 18-16 and 8-10.

Trailing 7-2 after two innings, and 7-3 entering the bottom of the eighth frame, the Patriots scored five times to take an 8-7 advantage.  The rally included a bases-loaded walk to Keon Graves, a three-run double by Ryan Hypke, and an RBI single by Greg Phelps.

North Georgia answered in the top of the ninth when Craig Brisson hit a two-out run-scoring triple to right field that knotted the score at 8-8.  In the bottom of the frame, North Georgia reliever Zack Black (1-3) walked three batters to load the bases with one out.  He then struck out Vince Farfaglia for the second out, but his 1-1 pitch to Hypke eluded catcher Daniel Petitti and Smith scampered home with the winning run.

FMU senior lefty Zach Farry recorded the last out of the top of the ninth and earned his fourth win in five decisions.

FMU senior starter Dusty Floyd allowed seven runs in only 1.2 innings, but all six of the Saints’ tallies in the second inning were unearned.  Patriot relievers Cory Deering and Ed Paul limited North Georgia to only seven hits and the one ninth-inning run, thus allowing FMU to come from behind.

North Georgia starter Michael Patton allowed only five hits and three runs over seven innings before running into trouble in the eighth.

Phelps extended his hitting streak to nine games with three hits, while FMU freshman first baseman Preston Shuey was 3-for-4 including a solo home run.

Petitti was 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Saints, while Andre Airich was 2-for-4 with an RBI.  Kevin Morrison had a two-out, three-run double in the Saints’ six-run, second-inning outburst.

Francis Marion will play at Wingate University on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., while North Georgia plays host to Anderson University on Tuesday at 6 p.m.