AUGUSTA, GA - Senior center fielder Justin Greene belted three home runs, scored five times, and drove in seven runs as 30th-ranked Francis Marion University blasted Augusta State University 27-9, Saturday (April 19) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.

In near-record setting fashion, FMU improved to 31-17 overall and 15-10 in the PBC with its sixth win in the last seven outings.  ASU drops to 25-23 and 8-14.  The two teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.

The Patriots scored a school-record 15 runs in the top of the first inning, breaking the record for runs in an inning.  The old mark was 14 set in the third inning of a 26-0 win over Voorhees College in 1987.  The 27 runs is the second highest total in school history behind only a 30-5 win over Allen University in 1985.  The team also set a record for hits with 29.

FMU sent 18 batters to the plate in the first frame, scoring the 15 runs on 11 hits.

In addition to Greene, junior catcher Jared Barkdoll paced the Patriots with 5-for-6 night that included two home runs and four RBIs.  Josh Smith and Vince Farfaglia both had four hits, with Smith driving in four runs and Farfaglia three.  Freshman Preston Shuey was 3-for-7 with four RBIs, while Ryan Hypke and Keon Graves both collected three hits and drove in one run apiece.  Farfaglia, Shuey, and Smith also homered as FMU pounded eight balls over the fence.

Junior right-hander David Walters (9-4) pitched seven innings to pick up the win, while Cory Deering finished up with two scoreless frames.